How Netanyahu gov’t media reforms risk deepening Israeli press bias

Media freedom organisations and opposition lawmakers have criticised sweeping media reforms pushed through by Israel’s right-wing coalition as part of a legislative blitz before the parliament’s dissolution in advance of elections later this year.The parliament, or Knesset, last week approved the bill that could give the government a far greater say in Israel’s news and broadcast sectors. The controversial measure strips away traditional oversight safeguards, eliminates requirements for minimum journalism standards and lifts longstanding limits on cross-ownership, among others.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israel’s media amplifies war rhetoric, ignores Gaza’s sufferinglist 2 of 4Success uncertain, but Israelis continue to back ‘heroic’ war with Iranlist 3 of 4Far-right Israeli incursion heightens tensions at Al-Aqsa ahead of electionlist 4 of 4Netanyahu to meet Trump at White House next week amid Iran war escalationend of listFollowing the July 17 vote, watchdog groups, including the Union of Journalists in Israel, along with opposition parties, successfully petitioned the High Court of Justice to freeze parts of the legislation. They warned that some provisions tha...