Israelis in London protest against Channel 13 owner Len Blavatnik at the Tate Modern

21 July 2024, 4:14 pm

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Protesters call on Channel 13 owner Len Blavatnik to maintain freedom of the press after the channel's board of directors appointed a former politician believed to be allied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as head of the news network, in front of the Blavatnik Building of the Tate Modern in London, July 21, 2024. (Rotem Perry/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

A group of Israelis living in London are protesting outside the Tate Modern’s Blavatnik Building against the owner of Israel’s Channel 13 Len Blavatnik, amid what they say is his attempt to suppress freedom of the press.

Blavatnik, whom the newest Tate Modern building is named after due to his substantial donation, has come under scrutiny in Israel in recent weeks following the Channel 13 board of directors’ decision to appoint former MK Yulia Shamalov Berkovich — who is believed to be allied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — as the head of the network’s news department.

As part of the network’s shakeup, the channel’s most-watched program “Warzone,” run by veteran political correspondent and Netanyahu critic Raviv Drucker, was abruptly canceled.

Protesters chant “Blavatnik, don’t mess with freedom of the press!” and some wear masks of his and Netanyahu’s faces.

A similar protest is also taking place outside the Blavatnik School of Government in England’s Oxford University.