Former Communications Director Shlomo Filber Recalls Fierce Battle Over Media Reform

Shlomo Filber, former Director General of Israel's Ministry of Communications and state witness in Case 4000, recounted his intense struggle to pass a major reform in the Israeli telecommunications market during a panel at the Katif Heritage Center. Filber described facing severe opposition from the professional bureaucracy, calling it "the gates of hell," and said he realized he was engaged in a financial war over millions of shekels with the civil service and the so-called deep state.

Filber detailed a pivotal agreement with Shaul Elovitch, in which Bezeq committed to investing 5 billion shekels to deploy fiber optic infrastructure nationwide in exchange for a minor regulatory concession. However, he said the reform effort was ultimately derailed by conflicts of interest within the political and professional ranks. He accused officials in the Finance Ministry, under then-Minister Moshe Kahlon, of working against the reform to benefit the HOT cable company, noting that Kahlon's sister was employed there and the ministry's director general was a personal friend.

The panel focused on the tension between elected officials and bureaucratic institutions and explored tools for effective governance. Filber's testimony highlighted the challenges of implementing reforms amid entrenched interests and bureaucratic resistance. His remarks come amid ongoing public scrutiny related to Case 4000 and the broader political context involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.