ARTICLE 19 critiques Israeli Public Service Broadcasting law

ARTICLE 19 today released a Memorandum analysing Israel's ‘Broadcasting Authority Law’ (BAL), which governs public service broadcasting in the country.

The BAL was adopted by the Knesset on 8 March 1965 and led to the establishment of the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which currently operates two television channels and several radio stations. ARTICLE 19’s analysis is intended to contribute an international perspective to a currently ongoing review of the BAL.

The Memorandum concludes that despite some strengths, especially in relation to funding arrangements, the BAL is generally outdated and offers few guarantees of a broadcaster which genuinely serves the public interest. Amongst the primary concerns identified are:

• The BAL does not require the IBA to cater to the whole of the public in an equitable way. There are no institutional mechanisms to ensure that Israel’s Arabic-speaking minority is given a voice by, and is represented fairly on the governing bodies and staff of, IBA.
• The BAL does not require the IBA to maintain an independent editorial line.
• The government plays a central role in all appointments to the governing bodies of the IBA, and individuals with strong affiliations to the government, political parties or commercial operations in competition with the IBA are not barred from appointment.
• Appointees to the governing bodies of the IBA are not required to possess any relevant qualifications, to maintain their independence or to act in the public interest.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• ARTICLE 19’s Memorandum on the BAL is available on our website, at http://www.article19.org/pdfs/analysis/israel-psb-07.pdf. An unofficial translation of the BAL can be downloaded at http://www.article19.org/pdfs/laws/israel.psb.65.pdf
• For more information, please contact Daniel Simons, Legal Officer, at +44 20 7278 9292 or at daniel@article19.org
 

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.

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