Israeli journalists are voicing serious concerns about the future of press freedom following the planned sale of a significant stake in Channel 13, a commercial television network known for its critical coverage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The sale, involving nearly 15% of the channel, is being made by British billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik to Patrick Drahi, a telecoms tycoon with French, Portuguese and Israeli nationality.
The Union of Journalists in Israel has condemned the deal as potentially “unlawful” and warned it represents a key step in what they describe as the Netanyahu government’s “master plan to capture the media” ahead of scheduled elections this year. The union appealed directly to Blavatnik, urging him to reconsider the sale, emphasizing his reputation for philanthropy and suggesting that supporting the deal would undermine press freedom in Israel.
Channel 13 has been a prominent voice of opposition, conducting investigations into Netanyahu’s financial dealings and consistently offering critical analysis of his policies. Drahi, however, already owns a cable television company and the i24NEWS channel in Israel, which generally adopts a less critical stance towards the prime minister. This existing media portfolio has fueled fears that Drahi’s acquisition will lead to a shift in Channel 13’s editorial direction.
While Israeli competition law limits any single competitor with existing media holdings to a 15% stake, critics argue that Drahi’s financial position effectively grants him control. Anat Saragusti, who oversees freedom of the press for the Union of Journalists, explained that because Blavatnik is reportedly unwilling to further invest in Channel 13 after years of losses, Drahi’s financial leverage will make the channel entirely dependent on him. “While Patrick Drahi is only buying 15%, our fear is that by buying 15%, he gets 100% hold of the policy of the channel,” she stated.
The concerns extend beyond editorial control to the potential for job losses. Ayala Panievsky, a presidential fellow in journalism at City, University of London, drew parallels to the recent turmoil at the Washington Post, where nearly a third of the workforce was laid off following a change in ownership. Panievsky, author of The New Censorship: How the War on the Media is Taking Us Down, views both situations as part of a broader “escalating war on independent and critical journalism” orchestrated by populist authoritarians and their allies.
A rival bid for 74% of Channel 13 was submitted by a consortium of Israeli tech entrepreneurs, reportedly offering to invest between $80 million and $120 million (£59 million to £88 million) over three years – a figure significantly higher than Drahi’s offer. However, this bid was ultimately unsuccessful. A source close to the consortium indicated that a formal offer had been made, but negotiations were not finalized.
Access Industries, Blavatnik’s main company, has denied any political pressure influenced the decision to favor Drahi’s bid. A spokesperson stated that the selection was based purely on financial considerations, asserting that Drahi’s proposal represented “the better deal for [Channel] 13” and would provide “the urgent injection of funds” needed to stabilize and modernize the channel. The spokesperson also denied reports that the Netanyahu government had signaled it would block approval of the tech consortium’s bid.
The sale occurs against a backdrop of increasing pressure on independent media in Israel. Netanyahu and his ministers have been actively working to reshape the media landscape, and the prime minister himself is currently on trial on corruption charges that include allegations of offering favorable treatment in exchange for positive coverage. Recent actions include a government minister filing a lawsuit against an investigative journalist for a record amount of 12 million shekels (£2.86 million), and financial sanctions imposed on the independent newspaper Haaretz for its criticism of the Gaza war.
The Union of Journalists anticipates legal challenges to the Drahi acquisition, hoping that Israel’s antitrust authorities or supreme court will intervene. Meanwhile, journalists are appealing to Blavatnik to reconsider, fearing that the sale of Channel 13 represents a critical turning point for press freedom in Israel. “If Channel 13 falls, this would be the end of the free press in Israel, because the rest will fall after that. It’s the tipping point,” Saragusti warned. “I think Blavatnik doesn’t really understand that this is not merely an economic issue but a milestone in Israeli democracy.”
