From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 1, 2025
Special Knesset panel formed to fast-track contentious media oversight bill
Ariela 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 House Committee votes to establish a special panel to advance Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial media regulation bill, with eight MKs voting for the motion and five against.
This is despite the stated opposition of Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik, who reiterates that the only committee that has the authority to prepare the bill for its second and third Knesset readings is the Economic Affairs Committee, which usually deals with media-related legislation.
The legislation 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 have an array of authorities over broadcast media, including the ability to issue hefty fines.
The special committee is meant to bypass Likud MK David Bitan, who chairs the Economic Affairs Committee and has expressed opposition to the bill in its current form.
Afik says that she is also concerned that the procedure will “harm the Knesset itself, the powers of the committees, and oversight powers.”
She adds that “political considerations are not a legitimate reason for establishing this committee.”
The special committee will be chaired by Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan and will include 13 members: Seven from the coalition and 6 from the opposition.
Speaking during the session today, Bitan said, “I find myself at a crossroads where I have to defend the Knesset from the government when it harms the powers and status of the Knesset. The government claims that the Supreme Court takes powers from the government, and what is it doing? The same thing to the Knesset.”
The Times of Israel Community.