[49211] Press freedom storm in Meron: Channel 12 blocked from covering the event

Tension surrounding the coverage of the Meron celebrations

A storm is brewing around media access to the Meron celebrations, after Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi decided to prevent Channel 12 from entering the event compound. According to Daphna Liel, the minister is using "security emergency regulations" to exclude the channel from coverage.

The official motive given by the Ministry of Communications is the holding of a lottery for media outlets, in which Channel 12 was supposedly not selected. However, sources on the ground point out that while Channel 12 was rejected, the Hidabroot channel received entry permits, which raises claims of political discrimination in the granting of coverage permits.

The War Room Channel presented the case under the headline "Restriction of Free Media," arguing that this is an improper use of emergency powers. The channel, which is associated with criticism of the government's conduct, emphasizes the claim that this is a deliberate step intended to restrict the actions of certain media outlets in the field.