Israel’s journalists push back against a new media reform bill, filing a High Court petition over its rushed advancement.
The Union of Journalists in Israel petitioned the High Court of Justice on Monday against advancing a sweeping communications reform bill, headed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud).
According to the petition, the process violates administrative law, ignores legal advice, and threatens the independence of the press. It demanded conditional and permanent injunctions against the advancement, as well as an urgent hearing on the matter.
In September, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the proposed bill that is set to implement extensive reforms in Israel’s media landscape.
The union argued that the decision was made in a rushed and irregular process. It also referenced a legal advisory opinion issued shortly after the bill was introduced, stating that the reforms pose a concrete threat to the free press, are rife with substantive and procedural flaws, and require revision.
This means, the union said, that its advancement should be prevented until all legal issues are resolved.
Despite opposition, Karhi submitted the bill to the Knesset on October 21. The petition noted that he acknowledged the bypassing of legal advice, describing the move as a historic first.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi seen at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, December 18, 2024 (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
“This is the first bill submitted for a first reading despite opposition from the legal advisory, demonstrating determination, independence, and a commitment to public policymaking by elected officials rather than by legal bureaucrats,” the communications minister had said at the time.
Threatens core democratic principles
The union stressed that it believes the bill threatens core democratic principles. Beyond endangering the freedom of the press, it said, the bill also undermines the independence of news agencies.
Some of the unions’ concerns include the abolition of the structural separation between news organizations and their owners; allowing media outlets to self-regulate ethical rules; and dissolving existing regulatory bodies in favor of a new supervisory authority, with members appointed by the communications minister himself.
Further, the union said it wanted to emphasize that preparing a bill is an administrative act that must follow administrative law principles. Among these fundamentals are proper fact-gathering methods, reviews by relevant ministries, and adherence to legal directives.
It said that the government’s rushed process, its disregard for legal advice, and its bypassing of standard procedures constitute an unlawful administrative act.