Finance Committee Chair Milbitchky Opposes Likud's Return to Channel 12 Without Apology to Unit 100 Soldiers

Hanoch Milbitchky, chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee and a senior Likud member, has joined party officials opposing the decision to resume interviews on Channel 12. He insists that no interviews should take place until the channel issues an apology to the soldiers of Unit 100, who were previously defamed by Channel 12 reports. Milbitchky rejected the argument that returning to Channel 12 is necessary for election campaigning, stating that "nothing justifies normalizing those who shed the blood" of these soldiers.

The controversy stems from a recent Likud decision to allow ministers and Knesset members to appear on Channel 12 again after months of boycott. The move aims to avoid ceding the media arena and to reach voters who do not watch Channel 14. However, many Likud members have publicly declared they will not break the boycott without an apology to Unit 100 soldiers.

Milbitchky's remarks follow earlier reports by C14 that the party leadership is divided on the issue. While some, like Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and MK Boaz Bismuth, have softened their stance, emphasizing the importance of media presence during elections, Milbitchky remains firmly against resuming ties with Channel 12 without a formal apology. The dispute highlights internal tensions within Likud ahead of the upcoming elections.