43 Members of Knesset voted in favor of the Yisrael Hayom Bill in its preliminary reading in Knesset on Wednesday 19 Marcheshvan while only 23 opposed, delivering a major blow to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Nine MKs abstained while nine others did not vote. The bill is sponsored by MK (Labor) Eitan Cabel, and if passed into law, it would make distribution of a daily newspaper illegal.
Opponents of the bill feel that the bill oversteps the boundaries of acceptable legislation and it is an affront to freedom of the press. Other feel that Eitan’s left-wing leanings are his motivating factor as the newspaper owned by Sheldon Adelson and is clearly slanted in favor of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Interestingly, the chareidim are among those backing the bill for chareidi parties feel Yisrael Hayom is anti-chareidi at best. They cite that this has been particularly evident in this administration as the paper sides with the coalition headed by Netanyahu, often taking blows at opposition parties, including the chareidim.
Bayit Yehudi opposed the bill in the preliminary vote. Only 7 of the 12 faction members of Bayit Yehudi took part in the vote. Ministers Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel and Deputy Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan did not participate in the vote. Of the 19 Likud faction members, only 11 voted.
Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz represented the cabinet in the session, and the minister was critical of Cabel and the bill, condemning an effort to shut down a newspaper that an elected official does not agree with. Deputy Speaker Moshe Feiglin stated few find themselves under attack in the daily more than he, yet he is adamantly opposed to the Knesset playing a role in attempting to stifle a legitimate newspaper whatever its opinion might be.
MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Meir Porush was the only chareidi lawmaker brave enough to vote against the bill. Most chareidi MKs absented themselves. Chareidi MKs who decided to abstain include Aryeh Deri, David Azoulai, Yaakov Margi, Meshulam Nahari and Yitzchak Cohen of Shas and Yisrael Eichler and Mosher Gafne from Yahadut Hatorah.
Eli Yishai of Shas and Ayelet Shaked of Bayit Yehudi offset one another as the latter supports the bill and the former does not. Shas faction members explain it is not their fight as the matter is one of the secular press and therefore not relevant.
It should be pointed out that Yisrael Hayom today leads the daily newspapers in national circulation. Opponents to the law insist Cabel cannot tolerate the fact that for the first time in the nation’s history, a newspaper that is not blatantly left-wing has made such headway.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
it’s a shame that chareidi parties have to vote always based on political games, – principles out the window…
The Israeli Supreme Court will definitely strike down this bill as being in violation of the Basic Law.
The passing as such a bill is meant to directly contravene the rule of Freedom of Speech. Should it pass it will deal a blow to the Israeli claim of being a democracy and the only true democracy in the Mideast.
So I took the time to read the draft bill that just passed preliminary vote. The bill would require all newspapers to charge no less than 70% of the cover price of the cheapest of the four general readership daily Israeli newspapers with the highest circulation. Should this ridiculous bill make it through the Knesset (which is highly doubtful) it will never pass muster with Bagat”z.
The only “democracy in the middle east”?huh?
Some arab countries have greater freedom of the press
yisroel hayom is the best of the bad lot.
However a Rule of thumb:
The secular writers
e.g.dror eydar,haim shine, dan margalit
are classic likud and generally mild towards charedim
but the kippa wearers e.g.Isi Leibler ,yehuda shlesinger
are haters of anything charedi
The most amusing element of all this that some are surprised
‘The bill meant to “protect and promote printed press in Israel” may very well deal a serious blow to freedom of the press and the constitutional rights of freedom, equality, freedom of occupation, and free competition, all of which are the cornerstones of democracy.
The bill’s proponents say they support it in the name of free speech, while they grossly contradict the principles of free expression and occupation’
Orwellian
“The Israeli Supreme Court will definitely strike down this bill as being in violation of the Basic Law.”
Glad that despite it’s poor past record some so are confident
SEQUEL to “temporary striking down” of the Shabbat bylaw
In his ruling on Tuesday, Judge Aviam Barkai said the Interior Ministry’s decision to strike down the amended bylaw was void, citing procedural errors. The judge faulted Sa’ar for not granting Mayor Ron Huldai a hearing before the decision was made, as required under the City Council Ordinance. The judge also lambasted Sa’ar for failing to explain his decision.
Because he did not follow proper protocol, Sa’ar’s decision was no longer relevant and the bylaw should be treated as if it were approved, the judge said, noting that Sa’ar had 60 days to elaborate on the controversial move.
Consequently, new Interior Minister Gilad Erdan will have no say on the new bylaw. “Sa’ar’s statement that he would explain his reasons at a time of his choosing cannot be tolerated,” the judge wrote.
In the long run such a bill is a limitation on freedom and is thus bad for Chareidim. Next will be a bill against newspapers encouraging religion.It will claim that it’s poisoning the public intelligence. This bill is a slippery slope.
this is the stupidest bill ever
Free is great,
Keep delivering the free FJJ to my doorpost
Jealousy among papers since the Israel Hayom is diluting left-wing ideology.
#2 and 3:
Don’t bet on the bagatz throwing this one out. They are the leftist of the left and rarely throw out anything that is to the detriment of the right.
#4:
With all of Israel’s faults – and they are many – yes, it is the only democracy in the Middle East. I’d be very interested to hear exactly which Arab countries you’ve found that have greater freedom of the press – or freedom of the press at all.
That said, Israel has a lot to learn in terms of allowing healthy, robust public debate about anything, and this ridiculous bill is just one more proof.
#11- This is not a partisan issue. While the Likud and HaBayit HaYehudi did indeed oppose the bill it was supported by Leiberman and Yisrael Beyteinu. And Zehava Galon of Meretz joined in the opposition.
And don’t mistake the ideological makeup of the justices of the Supreme Court. They are much more committed to the their civil rights agenda than they are to any political party. Yes, they can and have fudged on small issues but I cannot see them writing a judgement that would be on the books for posterity justifying closing a newspaper because it was not expensive enough.