The future of press freedom in Israel hangs in the balance as British billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik considers selling his stake in Channel 13, a commercial television channel known for its critical coverage of the Netanyahu government. This potential sale has sparked fear and concern among Israeli journalists, who believe it could deal a severe blow to the country's media independence.
Blavatnik, a philanthropist and one of the UK's wealthiest individuals, is selling a significant share of Channel 13 to Patrick Drahi, a telecoms tycoon with multiple nationalities. Drahi already owns a cable television company and a news channel in Israel, both of which have a less critical approach to covering Netanyahu. The concern lies in Drahi's financial situation, as his business empire is heavily indebted, and he is currently embroiled in a legal battle with creditors in the US.
The Union of Journalists in Israel has issued a strong statement, calling the sale an unlawful move that could further erode press freedom in the country. They believe it is part of a larger strategy by the Netanyahu government to control the media ahead of this year's elections. The Union has expressed confidence in Blavatnik's philanthropy, hoping he will not support any action that undermines press freedom.
While Blavatnik is selling just under 15% of Channel 13, critics argue that Drahi, as the sole investor, will have de facto control over the channel's policy and direction. Anat Saragusti, who oversees press freedom for the Union, expressed her fear that Drahi's purchase of a minority stake could give him complete control. She believes this would be a loss for the Israeli public, limiting freedom of speech and diversity of opinions.
The potential consequences of Drahi's takeover are not lost on Israeli journalists, who fear a similar fate to that of the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos. Ayala Panievsky, a journalism fellow, draws parallels between the two cases, highlighting the global trend of populist authoritarians and their enablers waging war on independent journalism. Panievsky believes media owners should be held accountable for their influence and collaboration with governments that harm press freedom.
A group of liberal Israeli tech entrepreneurs has made a rival bid for a majority stake in Channel 13, offering a substantial investment to modernize the channel. Despite this, Blavatnik's company, Access Industries, has denied any political pressure to sell to Drahi, stating that his proposal was selected as it offered the better deal for Channel 13's stability and growth.
The Netanyahu government's efforts to reshape the media landscape have been well-documented, with corruption charges against the prime minister involving alleged offers of financial favors in exchange for positive coverage. The government has also imposed financial sanctions on the independent newspaper Haaretz for its criticism of the Gaza war.
As the battle for Channel 13 continues, the Union of Journalists and the tech consortium are hopeful that Israel's antitrust authorities or supreme court will block the Drahi bid. The reporters are also pinning their hopes on Blavatnik changing his mind, as they believe the sale could mark a turning point for press freedom in Israel.
Saragusti warns, "If Channel 13 falls, it will be the end of the free press in Israel. It's a tipping point, and I think Blavatnik needs to understand the significance of this beyond just an economic decision. It's a milestone for Israeli democracy."
The future of Channel 13 and its impact on Israeli media independence remains uncertain, leaving journalists and the public anxiously awaiting the outcome.
