From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Knesset begins debating media overhaul in final legislative push before dissolution
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
The Knesset begins debating Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s sweeping media overhaul bill, which is expected to pass today as part of the coalition’s legislative blitz before the Knesset dissolves tomorrow ahead of the October 27 election.
The bill would significantly expand government control over the broadcast media and news sector by restructuring media regulation. It also contains provisions critics say are intended to disadvantage Channels 12 and 13, which the government has frequently accused of bias, while benefiting the pro-government Channel 14.
The current version of the bill is the product of repeated revisions following resistance from coalition partners. Earlier proposals included a government-run streaming app that would allow the public to watch television channels and sports broadcasts free of charge, but the provision was dropped after opposition from the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, which objected because the service would operate on Shabbat.
It also includes new provisions reportedly demanded by MK Avi Maoz of the one-man Noam faction, restricting cable and satellite providers from broadcasting content involving violence, sexuality, or religious conversion.
The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from the Knesset’s professional legal staff, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, and opposition lawmakers, who argue that it would undermine press freedom and enable political interference in the media, while decrying what they call a rushed legislative process that repeatedly bypassed normal parliamentary procedure.
They accuse the coalition of ignoring legal advice, introducing substantial last-minute changes and new provisions throughout the committee process, and giving lawmakers only hours to review revised versions of the legislation before voting.
The coalition is advancing the bill as one of a series of controversial measures it is seeking to enact before the Knesset dissolves, after securing the support of its ultra-Orthodox partners in exchange for passing legislation they had demanded, including a Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value of the state and a temporary law freezing the arrests of Haredi draft dodgers.
The Times of Israel Community.