Israeli Journalists Organization Board Moves to Oust Chairman Har-Ze'ev

The management board of the Journalists and Broadcasters Organization is initiating an unprecedented move to oust its current chairman, Haim Har-Ze'ev. Board members received notification that a meeting will be convened in the coming days to vote on considering such a step. The board's notice stated that after months of efforts to restore the organization's normal operations due to Har-Ze'ev's problematic conduct, they have reached a breaking point. They believe his continued tenure is causing severe damage to the organization, its professional functioning, its employees, and especially the journalists it represents.

The board is demanding an urgent meeting within days to discuss two aspects: first, the chairman's conduct, including findings from the audit committee and damage to relationships; and second, initiating a process to remove the chairman from his position and deciding on the procedural details. Since the organization's bylaws do not allow the board to dismiss a sitting chairman, the final decision will be put to a vote by all member journalists, similar to the appointment process last year.

This move stems from a severe and ongoing crisis of confidence between Har-Ze'ev and the organization's professional staff and management board. The crisis escalated due to allegations of exceeding authority and excessive involvement by the chairman in daily operations, an attempted unilateral dismissal of CEO Michal Gra-Margalit by Har-Ze'ev, and a complaint letter from four professional staff members. The situation reached a point of no return when Har-Ze'ev sent a letter threatening a defamation suit against the professional staff members who had complained about him to the board. This led the board to provide the employees with full legal backing and opt for removing the chairman.

Har-Ze'ev vehemently denies acting improperly, stating that the terminology used by the employees severely damaged his reputation, which is why he demanded a public apology and threatened legal action. The turmoil within the organization comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Israeli press, which is grappling with dramatic legislative initiatives and professional battles with media managements. Instead of focusing resources on defending journalists, the organization is now paralyzed by an internal struggle that could determine not only the chairman's identity but the organization's very ability to function.

If Har-Ze'ev's dismissal is approved by the members, new elections for chairman will be held. Conversely, if the move fails, the organization's continued operation is immediately jeopardized, as the professional staff have indicated they will resign if Har-Ze'ev remains chairman, according to sources on the board speaking to Globes. The organization's legal advisor, Adv. Amir Bashe, opined that the board is authorized to discuss the chairman's performance and the possibility of his removal, while acknowledging his special status as an elected official. However, his opinion did not rule on the authority to remove the chairman or the required procedures, only on the board's right to hold such a discussion.