Knesset passes media overhaul law, giving government greater regulatory control, in final legislative push

The Knesset votes 53-48 to pass Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s sweeping media overhaul, in the final part of the coalition’s legislative blitz before the Knesset dissolves tomorrow ahead of the October 27 election.

The law will significantly expand government control over Israel’s broadcast media and news sector by overhauling media regulation, removing longstanding oversight mechanisms, minimum journalistic standards, obligations to invest in original Israeli productions and restrictions on cross-ownership, while giving the government greater influence over television ratings and state advertising allocation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. on trial in cases relating to media control, participates in the debate though not in the final vote, and Karhi thanks him from the podium for assigning him to pilot the legislation through the Knesset. “Prime minister, I want to thank you and tell you that the mission you gave me four years ago — to deliver right-wing reform of the media — was today successfully completed.” (Note: An earlier version of this item incorrectly stated that Netanyahu participated in the vote.)

Critics argue the legislation is designed to dismantle existing safeguards and benefit broadcasters aligned with the current government.

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 allowing 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 Noam MK Avi Maoz, 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 describe as 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.