Israeli Journalists Demand Halt to Broadcast Law Legislation Ahead of Supreme Court Hearing

Just days before the Supreme Court is set to rule on petitions challenging the broadcast law legislation process, the Israeli Journalists Association urgently called on the Knesset's legal advisor to stop the Communications Committee from convening next week. The association alleges that the coalition is rushing to pass further amendments to the controversial broadcast reform before the court hearing scheduled for Monday, aiming to preempt judicial scrutiny.

According to the association's letter, the committee plans to meet on Sunday and again on Monday morning, mere hours before the Supreme Court session, to vote on revised sections of the law. The association warns that this accelerated schedule undermines proper parliamentary procedure and attempts to finalize a fundamentally flawed legislative process. They also highlight that the proposed changes exclude a government app intended to replace the "Idan Plus" platform, which provides accessible news and sports broadcasts to the public, potentially marginalizing vulnerable populations and harming freedom of expression.

The Knesset submitted an update to the Supreme Court confirming that the bill passed second and third readings in committee and was tabled in the plenum. The Communications Committee chair, Galit Distel-Atbaryan, and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi have been leading the legislative efforts amid opposition from ultra-Orthodox parties, who object to unresolved issues such as Sabbath observance and content restrictions in the new government app.

Legal advisor to the Knesset, Shagit Afik, clarified this week that certain content prohibitions, including those protecting minors and banning obscene material, cannot be regulated under the current bill because these provisions were split off early in the process. Afik emphasized that these are significant issues that now require separate legislation.

The journalists' association demands immediate intervention to halt the rushed committee meetings or at least ensure adequate time for public consultation and expert input on the revised bill. The Supreme Court hearing and the intense legislative activity in the Knesset corridors just before its dissolution represent a critical juncture for one of Israel's most contentious media reforms.