Many employees at the Maariv newspaper appear less concerned over the fact the newspaper is halting its weekday paper publication, limiting itself to the electronic edition, than they do over the fact that a right-winger has purchased the financially ailing newspaper.

Shlomo Ben-Tzvi of the right-wing Makor Rishon newspaper has purchased Maariv for 85 million NIS, leaving many of the prominent columnists, persons aligned with the political left-wing in a quandary. Employers met in “urgent session” on Sunday 22 Elul 5772 to discuss the ramifications of the sale.

There are about 2,000 employees in the newspaper. According to predictions, Ben-Tzvi will be letting about 1,600 of them go and moving the remainder over to incorporate the operation with Makor Rishon. Most believe that the newspaper’s leading columnist, Ben Caspit, will not find himself comfortable in the new environment and will most likely leave. Others feel that Ben-Tzvi will seek to persuade him to remain towards maintaining journalistic integrity.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)