If you thought requiring a business license for operating a newspaper is a violation of the freedom of speech (as guaranteed by the US Constitution but not by any Israeli constitution that does not exist..), you are really not going to like yesterday law proposal submitted by MK Eitan Cabel (Labor).
Cabel has proposed that any newspaper of the "big four" daily papers with the widest distribution in the country will not be allowed to be distributed for free but will have to be sold for at least a symbolic price - at least 70% of the cheapest newspaper with the greatest distribution.
Basically this law is going to hurt only Yisrael Hayom, which has become one of the widest distributed newspapers (or maybe the widest), but is distributed for free.
Supposedly, they explain in the proposal, which is supported by MKs from a number of parties, the objective of the proposal is to strengthen the written press in Israel, and recognize the great importance and strengthen the freedom of expression and democracy.
The newspapers in Israel today are in a serious financial crisis and the greatest threat to them is that they cannot truly and fairly compete when other newspapers are distributed for free. Such newspapers are destroying the competition and do not allow the market to recover.
I enjoy the irony of "strengthening freedom of expression" by stopping a newspaper from distributing the way it wants to.
With support of MKs from both sides of the Knesset, this proposal might have a pretty good chance of being voted into law. Though I don't get why some of the MKs, like Habayit Hayehudi MKs, are supporting it. Yisrael Hayom is considered a right wing newspaper, supportive of Bibi Netanyahu (it even achieved the nickname "Bibiton")...
If this law should pass, Yisrael Hayom would either have to close up shop, begin charging a fee, or lessen their distribution.
Religion Magazine
