Knesset to discuss establishing special panel to advance Karhi’s controversial media regulation bill

The Knesset House Committee will discuss on Monday the establishment of a special committee meant to advance a controversial media regulation bill spearheaded by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.

Karhi is trying to establish the committee in order to sidestep Likud MK David Bitan, who has expressed opposition to the bill in its current form and happens to head the Economic Affairs Committee, which usually deals with media-related legislation.

The committee, if it becomes a reality, is set to be headed by Likud MK Galit Distal-Atbaryan.

Bitan says his fellow Likud legislator’s attempt to bypass his committee is an affront to the democratic process.

“There are some ministers who want a committee that is convenient for them; this is a cheapening of democracy,” he tells Channel 12 in an interview.

Karhi’s bill would give the government significant control over broadcast media, news sites and other media by establishing a new regulatory council, with a majority of members chosen by the communications minister that would be granted vast authorities, including the ability to issue hefty fines.

In a video published tonight hinting at the committee’s pending establishment, Karhi boasts that he is “changing the media in Israel.”

“I closed Al Jazeera, I stopped the government funding to the Haaretz newspaper. I brought Channel 14 and a variety of channels to Idan Plus,” he says, referring to the free-of-charge broadcast distribution platform. The minister adds that he also helped “advance the closure of Army Radio.”