Maariv to ‘boycott’ ministers’ pics
Angered at lack of governmental support in time of need, paper will ignore parliamentarians until further notice
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Maariv workers, angry over the prospect of losing their jobs at the financially strapped Hebrew daily, on Thursday launched an unusual attack against Israeli government ministers whom, they charge, have failed to come to their defense.
Under the headline “You’re ignoring us; from now on we’re ignoring you,” Maariv informed its readers that as of Thursday and until further notice, the names and photographs of ministers would no longer grace the pages of the newspaper.
Maariv has been experiencing a growing financial crisis over the past few months. On September 9 it was reported that businessman Shlomo Ben-Tzvi, the owner of the right wing-leaning newspaper Makor Rishon had purchased the paper for NIS 85 million (roughly $21m.). However, Ben-Tzvi later backed out of the deal, having examined the finances of the paper, and demanded that the purchase price be lowered.
While the sale has not yet been finalized and no new terms have been disclosed, on Wednesday night the board of directors formally approved the sale of the paper to Ben-Tzvi.
In a front-page piece in Thursday morning’s edition, the paper blasted government ministers for failing to weigh in on a dispute between the paper’s shareholder’s over who would foot the bill for their employees’ severance pay in the event of mass layoffs.
On Wednesday, the principle shareholder of Maariv, Nochi Dankner, said that he would not be able to pay the entire sum owed the workers, and expected his partners to come up with part of the money, estimated at some NIS 40 million.
“[The ministers] remain mum about the plight of 2,000 workers who are fighting for their livelihood…ignore the fact that tax-paying citizens are liable to be sent home without what they are legally entitled to receive,” the article said, further berating the minsters for “remaining indifferent to the threat to democracy posed by the closing of an Israeli newspaper.”
The article, which included a picture of Israeli ministers with their faces whited out, closed with a direct statement to the ministers themselves: “Apparently we are invisible to you. As of today, you are invisible to us as well.”
The Times of Israel Community.