Likud Forces Removal of Haaretz Newspaper's 'It's Possible' Advertising Campaign

The Likud party successfully pressured the removal of an advertising campaign by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz titled "It's Possible," which appeared on billboards. According to a report by Kan News on Wednesday, Likud sent warning letters to advertising companies demanding the campaign's removal, claiming it constituted election propaganda aimed at instilling hope among voters that the outgoing coalition could be replaced in the upcoming elections. Despite Haaretz's insistence that the campaign was not a political call, the ads were removed from key locations and the campaign was halted.

In response, Haaretz issued a statement condemning the attempt to block a commercial campaign promoting the values of free, independent, and critical journalism. The newspaper described this as part of an ongoing government-led campaign against free media since the start of its term, involving delegitimization, incitement, pressure, and repeated efforts to silence critical media outlets. Haaretz highlighted recent attacks on its own newsrooms and those of Channel 12, including a death threat letter left at Channel 12's newsroom entrance.

Haaretz emphasized that such violence does not occur in a vacuum but grows in a public climate where the government repeatedly labels the media as an enemy. The attempt to silence the press through legal pressure and continuous incitement against journalists is part of a dangerous trend. The Haaretz group affirmed its commitment to maintaining independent, critical, and fearless journalism.

This incident reflects escalating tensions between the Israeli government and critical media outlets ahead of elections, raising concerns about press freedom and political influence over public discourse.