IMW Lada'at - Israel's Media Watch update report 17

Israel's Media Watch Update report #17 - July 27 , 1999

1. IMW's Annual General Meeting was held on July 11, 1999. Prof. Eli Pollak was unanimously elected to annother two-year term as Chairman.
In addition, the following were elected as members of the executive
board: Prof. Tzvi Ofir; Moshe Alafi; Adir Zik; and Mrs. Chedva
Spiegel. Prof. Ezra Sohar and Prof. Elisha Babad were elected as
ombudsmen. Ms. Toby Greenwald-Klein and Mr. Avi Rott informed the assembly that they are resigning their membership positions.
The AGM heard activity and financial reports, authorized the
CPA report for 1997 and discussed future efforts.

2. On July 20, IMW's director conferred with Chairman of the
Knesset's Accounting and Comptroller Committee, MK Uzi Landau, regarding the committee's obligations vis-a-vis the public
broadcasting networks and their commitment to the law.

3. IMW complained to the IBA Chairman following the publication of a political advertisement that appeared in the Ha'Aretz daily on July 12 to which Mabat news presenter Chaim Yavin affixed his signature. The ad called upon the government of Israel and the Jerusalem municipality to halt the demolition of homes in east Jerusalem and the administered territories.
IMW queried whether employees of the public broadcasting system are permitted to act in this manner. In addition, IMW pointed out that Mr. Yavin also produces documentary films and if he is allowed to promote a political agenda (IMW noted that the ad dealt only with the destruction of Arab homes whereas Jewish homes are also occasionally destroyed), should not there be then a more balanced reservoir of TV film producers.

4. IMW's Eli Pollak participated in a special session of the IBA's plenum devoted to a proposed plan of major administrative and programming reform. The panel discussion and debate took place in Tel Aviv on July 18 and other participants included Prof. Arnon Zuckerman, former IBA Chairman and author of the Report dealing with reform of the public broadcasting and Tzvi Hauser of the Communications Ministry and head of the Council of Cable Broadcasting, among others.

5. IMW's executive board member, Chedva Spiegel, is challenging her rejection as a member of the Second Radio & Television Authjority's public supervisory council. The Ben-Dror Committee, after two previous authorizations, decided that her membership in the Central Committee of a political party disqualified her.
Mrs. Spiegel's counsel wrote to the Attorney-General pointing
out that another SRTA council member, Giora Eini, had actively and
intensely participated in the negotiations for the establishment of
the Barak government coalition and was photographed on numerous
occasions. Spiegel claims discrimination.

Join & Support IMW's activities to assure fair, reliable and pluralistic broadcasting on Israel's public electronic media:
POB 6023 Jerusalem 91060 - Tel: 02-6236425 Fax: 02-6236426
E-mail: isrmedia@netvision.net.il

Israel's Media Watch is a non-partisan civic advocacy group - IMW is a registered non-profit organization whose major aim is assuring the ethical and fair conduct of the Israeli media.