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Monday, December 8, 2025
Lapid calls coalition’s contentious media bill attempt to ‘silence dissent’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says the special Knesset panel established to advance Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial media bill is nothing less than “a committee for silencing dissent.”
The committee, led by Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan, began discussing the bill earlier today.
Speaking to the press before a Yesh Atid faction meeting, he argues the government is pushing legislation designed to create a media landscape that is “submissive, fearful, and controlled.”
Lapid pointedly addresses reporters, telling them, “You’re annoying. No politician in the world is satisfied with you, but that’s how it should be. That’s your job.”
He warns that this is precisely why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Karhi “want to ensure [that independent media] won’t exist.”
He vows to fight the bill in the Knesset but stresses that the press must defend itself as well. “If the Israeli press doesn’t protect freedom of expression, there won’t be freedom of expression,” he says. “If it doesn’t defend its independence, you won’t be independent, and then, you won’t be at all.”
Karhi’s proposal is part of a broader effort by the government to reshape Israel’s legacy media, which coalition leaders frequently accuse of left-wing bias. The bill would grant the government sweeping new powers over broadcasters, news sites, and other media outlets.
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