Yair Golan Defends Remarks, Calls for Banning Channel 14
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, defended his controversial remarks about Channel 14, calling for its closure during a TV interview on Saturday. He also stated his intention to cut public funding for the Eli pre-military academy and criticized ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Golan outlined his party's demands for future coalition negotiations, including key ministries. The Press Council had previously criticized Golan's calls to ban Channel 14.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yair Golan reiterated his call to shut down Channel 14, calling it a propaganda channel.
- Golan stated his intention to stop public funding for the Eli pre-military academy.
- He criticized ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for their policies and ideology.
- Golan revealed his party would demand the Justice, Education, Public Security, and Communications ministries.
- The Press Council previously called Golan's demand to close Channel 14 anti-democratic.
Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, reiterated his harsh criticism of Channel 14, an Israeli news outlet, during a television appearance on Saturday. Golan, who previously accused the channel of "killing babies as a hobby," appeared on Eyal Berkovich and Moriyah Asraf's program on Channel 13. He refused to retract his statements, suggesting they were taken out of context and that the real issue lies with the government's actions, not his words.
Golan stated that Channel 14 is indeed worthy of being shut down unless it adheres to the Press Council's ethical guidelines, labeling it a "propaganda channel." Host Eyal Berkovich challenged Golan, suggesting that he too could be accused of propaganda for promoting Gadi Eisenkot as a prime ministerial candidate. Berkovich urged Golan, "Democracy, Yair! Why do you care? Don't watch Channel 14!" but Golan insisted that "democracy must defend itself."
Interestingly, the Press Council itself has previously criticized Golan's calls to close Channel 14, deeming them "anti-democratic" and a threat to freedom of broadcast and expression, while still urging the channel to comply with its license terms. Golan also addressed the pre-military academy in Eli, affiliated with Religious Zionism, stating his intention to halt its public funding. He further revealed that his party would demand the Ministries of Justice, Education, Public Security, and Communications in future coalition negotiations.
Golan also commented on Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him of pursuing a "destructive policy that causes Jewish terrorism in Judea and Samaria." Regarding Itamar Ben-Gvir, Golan called him a "Kahanist" who should not be in government, especially as a minister. When Berkovich noted that soldiers fighting on the front lines vote for Ben-Gvir, Golan responded that during his military service, he never checked a soldier's helmet for a kippah, emphasizing he opposes leaders, not the public.
Golan outlined fundamental guidelines for the next government, including establishing an alternative to Hamas, combating terror, enforcing law and order, and removing illegal outposts. He also expressed respect for Knesset Member Yaakov Asher, calling him a "good man." The interview concluded with Golan sharing personal details about his daily routine, waking at 6 a.m. and drinking coffee from a moka pot.
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