Report: Karhi secures Haredi backing for media reform bill, promises increased powers for rabbinical courts in return

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi has enlisted the support of the Knesset’s Haredi parties for a piece of controversial legislation that will dramatically alter the state of Israel’s broadcast media, Channel 12 reports.

According to the report, Karhi informed lawmakers from Shas and United Torah Judaism that if they back his desired media reforms, he will support increasing the power of rabbinical courts, a long-standing demand of the two Haredi parties.

Karhi’s legislation, should it pass, would give the government significant control over broadcast media regulations by establishing a new regulatory council, with a majority of members chosen by the communications minister, which would have an array of authorities over broadcast media, including the ability to issue hefty fines.

Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara has criticized the bill, saying it would enable “political interference in the work of broadcast bodies and endanger the free press in Israel.”

The outlet reports that the same effort to secure the Haredi votes for his media reform bill was behind Karhi’s public endorsement earlier today of a planned ultra-Orthodox anti-conscription rally.