After more than 7 years – a new council for the Second Authority for Television and Radio. Yesterday, at its weekly meeting, the government approved the candidacies of Communications Minister Yoaz Handel for the Second Authority Council.
The Authority Council will be headed by Eden Bar-Tal, former director general of the Ministry of Communications, who will bring with him, according to the ministry’s announcement, rich and proven regulatory and professional experience.
Half of the council’s representatives are women, and there is also a representation – according to the Ministry of Communications – of the ultra-Orthodox, religious, Arab public, representatives of the periphery, professionals and academia, spirit and action.
A glance at the list will prove to you the essence of the representation of the ultra-Orthodox sector in the elected council.
Here is the full list, along with the details we gathered about the committee’s representatives appointed: Udi Yerushalmi (former chief of staff of Gali Tzahal), Adv. Screenwriter, poet, ultra-Orthodox feminist activist, lecturer and Israeli film researcher. Some consider her ‘first ultra-Orthodox film critic’), Dr. Dana Raviv (lecturer in communications at Ariel University, considered close to Justice Minister Gideon Saar), Yaki Hepstein (Makor Rishon) , Prof. Ilan Tamir (Head of the School of Communication at Ariel University), Ilai Ofran (rabbi, psychologist, and Israeli network anchor) and Isfahan Bahlul (the Arab woman who became famous for teaching the Arab sector about the Holocaust).
Also on the list: Rabbi Sharon Shalom (who was ordained a rabbi in the USSR, but whose rulings and tenure are now in the spirit of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization; such as: he allows cash payment to the synagogue on Shabbat – because Ethiopian Jews, etc.) As the wife of Danny Dayan, chairman of the Yad Vashem board and former chairman of the Yesha Council, Tzipi Manheimer (who ran on behalf of the Economic Party and claims that the ultra-Orthodox parties do not represent the ultra-Orthodox public, along with its support for the Foreign Ministry), Shmuel Shetach (CEO) To the Torah and Labor Trustees Movement), Adam Tzachi (Ph.D.) and Michal Dagon (who was the main producer of the Broadcasting Corporation here).
In various circles, there has been criticism that the council has no members with experience in commercial television and in general in television productions.
As reserved by law the council took office immediately.
Minister of Communications Yoaz Handel: “Thank you to the Prime Minister and my fellow ministers who today approved the members of the Second Authority Council. The council will be as matter-of-fact and professional as the residents of the State of Israel deserve. This is a necessary step on the way to a change in the broadcasting market in Israel. I am confident that the new council will implement the need for transparency in the council’s decisions, reduction of excess regulation, strict adherence to original productions and the quality of Israeli art.
“I intend to bring about the completion of a comprehensive reform of the broadcasting market. However it is necessary to appoint after many years of delay, A new council that will represent all parts of Israeli society (Emphasis not in original) and will help bring about the necessary change in the broadcasting market. I thank the outgoing council and wish success to the incoming council. “
Indeed, Minister Handel, all parts of Israeli society are well represented in the new council.