Legal advisers walk out of Knesset media bill panel after chair bars them from speaking

A shouting match broke out in the Knesset’s special committee to advance the government’s controversial media overhaul bill earlier, when committee chair Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan refused to allow the panel’s legal advisers to speak, prompting them to walk out and leading her to eject opposition lawmakers who protested her behavior.

After Distel-Atbaryan announced that she would not allow a debate scheduled this week to be dragged out or “filibustered,” she swiftly silenced the committee’s legal advisers when they attempted to speak.

“I have answered these questions again and again. From the moment we didn’t accept comments on the draft — which completely ignore our agenda, our worldview, and the position of the minister that was democratically elected — the committee’s legal advisers placed the council under the wing of the attorney general,” she said, accusing the legal advisers of effectively siding with the attorney general and purposely delaying proceedings because she refused to accept their recommendations.

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.

It has drawn sharp opposition from both the committee’s professional legal staff and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who have warned that the current draft undermines press freedom and allows for political interference in media.

“Your opinions aren’t relevant here,” she said to the legal staff, accusing them of “acting against me and delaying the discussions.”

After being repeatedly silenced, a member of the committee’s legal advisory team said, “We see that there is no need for legal advisers here. We’re leaving,” and the team exited amid shouts from lawmakers.

Lawmakers demanded that the legal advisers be allowed to speak, prompting Distel-Atbaryan to eject nearly all opposition MKs, including Yesh Atid’s Shelly Tal Meron and Yorai Lahav-Hertzano, and Democrats MK Efrat Rayten.

“There is no need for [the legal advisors] to be here. Go ahead and convene a committee with yourselves,” Tal Meron said sarcastically.