On March 17, 2025, the Economics Committee approved a bill, whose entire purpose is to undermine the independence of the Public Broadcasting Corporation and tightening political control over its content. According to the proposal, the Corporation will be required to submit its annual reports to the Economics Committee each year, and the committee will hold a “hearing” with the participation of the chairman and CEO of the Corporation’s council.
When the Broadcasting Corporation Law was enacted, in order to ensure its independence, it was deliberately decided to avoid introducing parliamentary oversight of public broadcast content. An independent public broadcasting corporation is a foundation for freedom of the press and the public’s right to reliable and balanced information – and subverting it is a direct harm to democracy and freedom of expression.
Attorney Ronen Reingold represented Zulat at the committee and said, among other things, that “this proposal seeks to restore political oversight over the content and essential activities of the Corporation.”
Watch (Hebrew, no subtitles):