The closure of the Israeli public broadcaster has been postponed ‘until further notice’, says Benjamin Netanyahu’s government

The closure of Israeli public broadcaster Kan by Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government has been postponed indefinitely, a spokesman for the communications minister said.

For now, the Israeli television community will breathe a sigh of relief after Shlomo Karhi’s representative told the local press that the plan has been postponed “until further notice” to allow the government to focus on implementing legislative reforms.

A blueprint for public broadcasting was originally due to be delivered by Karhi next week. He sparked outrage when he told the country’s private television station, Channel 12, last month: “There is no place for public broadcasting in Israel,” while arguing that the television market should be fully opened to competition.

Since then, there has been behind-the-scenes lobbying from local television unions and producer groups. Deadline understands that organizations campaigning against the shutdown included the US Democratic Party.

Israel has three public television channels: Kan 11, the Arabic news channel Makan 33 and the youth channel Kan Educatief, as well as a number of radio stations in different languages.

According to The 2050 Group, Kan was the founder of the global hit tehran, accounted for 42% of original content production in Israel last year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), of which Kan is a member, greeted the news with caution.

“We are extremely concerned about statements by the Israeli government that threaten the future of state broadcasting,” the EBU said in a statement. “We cautiously welcome reports that proposals have been delayed ‘indefinitely’. We must protect independent journalism and will keep a close eye on developments.”

But the Union of Journalists in Israel, which last week called an “emergency conference” in response to the government’s sweeping austerity plans, remains skeptical, it said The Jerusalem Post.

“We have seen a new spider every day for the past few weeks,” the union said in a statement. “The fight to prevent damage to the public broadcaster will continue in full force until Minister Karhi says he has rejected the plan to close the public broadcaster.”

Israel has long outdone itself in the global TV arena, introducing the world to the likes of Fauda And Shtisel and recently a more attractive location for filming thanks to a new tax break.

Netanyahu became prime minister for the fourth time in late December after an unprecedented fifth election in nearly four years. His current government is the most right-wing he has led and consists of a coalition made up mainly of religious conservatives.