Knesset gives initial okay to delay launch of new broadcaster

The Knesset plenum approves the first reading of new legislation that will again delay the start of Israel’s new public broadcaster to give lawmakers time to make last-minute changes.

The new bill to push back the launch of the new broadcaster, formally called “Kan” and widely known as HaTa’agid (the corporation) to May 15, was approved in a 44 to 34 vote.

The vote is the first in a series of measures aimed at pushing the new bill through parliament before the April 30 deadline in an effort to facilitate changes made under deal reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon.

Under the Netanyahu-Kahlon deal, the new broadcaster will be stripped of its news division and separate broadcast entity will be created to deal with all current affairs offerings.