Opposition Seeks to Halt Votes on Broadcast Bill Over Procedural Irregularities

Opposition members on the Knesset’s Communications Committee asked the Knesset legal adviser on Friday to stop voting from starting on Sunday, citing what they described as exceptional flaws in the committee’s proceedings this week.

The request comes amid debate over the broadcast law, which is scheduled for second and third readings. According to the report, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi tried just before the vote this week to restore a clause that had been removed from the bill and was described as anti-democratic.

That clause would have allowed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief David Zini to give instructions to news channels during emergencies, and also during election periods. After an uproar broke out in the committee discussing the bill, the clause was removed again.

The opposition is now arguing that the process was so flawed that the upcoming votes should not begin as planned. The article does not say how the legal adviser will respond or whether the vote will be delayed.