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Communications Ministry

A masked assailant is caught on surveillance footage hurling a brick at the glass doors of Channel 12's offices in Tel Aviv, in the early hours of July 28, 2026. (Channel 12 via X)
July 28, 2026, 2:11 pm
‘Someone will die’: Vandal smashes Channel 12 office doors again, leaves threatening note
Network’s Tel Aviv entrance hit with two bricks, message demands apology for coverage of alleged abuse of Palestinian at Sde Teiman army base; outlet accuses government of incitement
By ToI Staff
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attends the Special Committee for the Communications Law at the Knesset, April 28, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 11, 2026, 10:47 pm
After backlash, Karhi drops bid to grant Netanyahu additional power over media before election
Opposition MKs decry last-minute amendment to controversial broadcast overhaul bill, which one quips ‘suddenly appeared in the middle of the night’; comms minister mocks ‘clowns’
By Ariela Karmel
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attends a Knesset Finance Committee meeting, in Jerusalem, May 12, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 17, 2026, 8:55 pm
Coalition seeks to fast-track 2 key bills through committee, bypassing legal review
Marathon committee sessions expedite bills to split AG’s role and overhaul media before expected Knesset dissolution and early elections, despite legal adviser’s opposition
By Ariela Karmel
MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan leads the Special Committee for the Communications Law at the Knesset, March 15, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 15, 2026, 8:06 pm
Knesset legal adviser blasts media bill’s legislative process, urges committee change
Sagit Afik says proceedings at special panel don’t meet basic requirements, demands return to economics committee, after clash in which legal advisers were silenced
By Ariela Karmel
The main headquarters in Jerusalem of the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, known as Kan, seen on January 31, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
March 26, 2026, 7:03 pm
Unable to shut down Kan, coalition maneuvers to control public broadcaster’s budget
Bill removing legal safeguards that are meant to shield outlet from political pressure is moved to Knesset committee headed by Netanyahu loyalist, in crusade to dismantle outlet
By Ariela Karmel
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attends the Special Committee for the Communications Law at the Knesset, December 16, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
December 23, 2025, 4:34 pm
Knesset extends authorities’ power to ban broadcasts deemed harmful to security
Law, now in effect until 2027, enables shuttering of outlets, seizure of equipment, and blocking of satellite transmissions in Israel and the West Bank
By AFP and ToI Staff
MK Galit Distel Atbaryan leads the Special Committee for the Communications Law at the Knesset, December 8, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
December 8, 2025, 9:35 pm
Panel chair assails press as special Knesset committee takes up media oversight bill
Netanyahu loyalist accuses outlets of persecuting PM in opening discussion on Karhi bill that critics say will stifle free speech and give authorities wide say in what is reported
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in the Knesset, May 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 5, 2025, 4:41 pm
Media bill won’t give government direct editorial control, but risks putting press in biased, moneyed hands
Expert Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler says Karhi’s proposal could severely damage independent journalism. While regulation reform is needed, this bill ‘can’t be divorced’ from coalition’s hostility to press
By Ariela Karmel
Illustrative: A film crew shoots a scene from the hit TV show 'Fauda' in Tel Aviv on May 30, 2019. (AP/Oded Balilty)
July 21, 2025, 4:54 pm
Funding for original Israeli TV projects is about to dry up, warn industry insiders
At the Jerusalem Film Festival, producers of hits such as ‘Tehran’ say outdated legislation coupled with wariness of international companies means Israeli productions may soon say ‘the end’
By Amy Spiro
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi discusses his moves to sideline the Kan public broadcaster during a Knesset Economic Committee hearing on December 18, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 7, 2025, 1:58 pm
Communications minister assailed for declaring he won’t comply with High Court order
Karhi accuses court of usurping authority; opposition leader Lapid says law must be obeyed, Gantz warns of anarchy if ministers fail to comply with court orders
By Jeremy Sharon
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem, October 30, 2024. (Dani Shem-Tov/Knesset)
November 24, 2024, 11:51 pm
Likud minister asserts that government has right to enact ‘regime change’ in Israel
In separate comments, Karhi suggests abolishing High Court, replacing it with body overseen by Knesset; ministerial panel backs firebrand legislator’s bill to enhance MKs’ immunity
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attends a vote in the Knesset plenum, September 29, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 29, 2024, 3:19 am
AG comes out against bill that would give government control of TV viewer ratings
Television networks say measure will lead to ‘channeling of private advertising funds to political needs’; comms minister: Attorney general’s ‘opinion as important as garlic peel’
By Jeremy Sharon
A general view of the newsroom of Al Mayadeen broadcasting from Beirut, Lebanon, June 11, 2012. (Bilal Hussein/AP)
August 11, 2024, 3:42 pm
Government approves proposal to block Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen news
Communications minister signs order to seize network’s equipment and block local access to its websites, says ‘terrorist representatives’ are posing as journalists
By Sam Sokol
Communications Minister Shlomo Karai attends a protest of bereaved families of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip calling for the continuation of the war, outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, May 5, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 23, 2024, 4:46 pm
Communications minister seeks to blame Gallant for AP equipment seizure fiasco
Shlomo Karhi, who faced ridicule over his rapid U-turn, claims defense minister got ‘cold feet’ and was unwilling to say news agency’s live feed of Gaza endangered soldiers
By ToI Staff
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi arrives at a Likud faction meeting in the Knesset, January 8, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 22, 2024, 12:42 am
Karhi reverses decision to seize AP equipment that broadcasts live feed of Gaza
Live feed resumes hours after communications minister says confiscated camera, equipment being returned; AP welcomes reversal but concerned about government impeding press freedom
By Agencies and ToI Staff
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