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

The Israeli Journalists Organization urgently requested the Knesset's legal advisor, Attorney Shagit Afik, to stop the Communications Committee from convening next Sunday to advance the Broadcasting Law reform. This demand comes amid pending petitions to the Supreme Court challenging the legislative process, with concerns that the coalition is rushing to pass changes before the court hearing scheduled for Monday.

According to the organization's letter, the committee plans to vote on the law on Sunday, just hours before the Supreme Court session, and hold further votes on Monday morning. The organization warns this accelerated schedule aims to complete a fundamentally flawed legislative process, lacking proper professional review and public consultation. They also highlight that a key provision establishing a government app to replace the "Idan Plus" broadcast system is being removed, which could exclude vulnerable populations from accessing news and sports broadcasts, severely impacting freedom of expression and press in Israel.

The Knesset submitted an update to the Supreme Court confirming the law passed second and third readings in committee and was tabled in the plenum. The Communications Committee chairwoman Galit Distel-Atbaryan and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi are leading the legislative push. The journalists' group cites a November legal opinion from the Knesset's legal advisor stating the law should be handled by the Economics Committee, not the special fast-track committee, reinforcing their legal challenge.

Earlier this week, Attorney Afik clarified that certain provisions on banning forbidden content and protecting minors cannot be regulated within the current law due to their removal during the legislative split. She emphasized these sections are now considered a separate legal matter. The accelerated legislative process follows a political compromise involving ultra-Orthodox parties agreeing to a softened Basic Law on Torah Study, allowing the coalition to focus on the broadcasting reform.

The Supreme Court hearing on Monday, alongside the intense Knesset debates before its expected dissolution, will be decisive for this controversial media reform in Israel. The journalists' organization demands immediate intervention to halt the rushed discussions or at least ensure adequate time for professional input and public response to the revised law text.