The Israeli government is moving to shut down the county's major advertising-supported newspaper, Israel HaYom (Israel Today).
Despite its name, it has no connection to Gannett's Today newspapers in the U.S.
All newspapers are, of course, paid for by advertising. Israel HaYom is distributed free, gratis, six days-a-week. There are other free-circulation papers in Israel, but only Israel HaYom is published 6 days a week, and the law being pushed in the Knesset - Israel's parliament - is aimed at only the newspaper with BOTH (a) free distribution and (b) published 6 days-a-week.
I don't know if another paper is behind the push to put Israel HaYom out of business - that's one of the stories I read in the email media. It really doesn't matter.
It is sufficient that Israel's politicians are even considering the proposal that causes me to question "democracy" in Israel.
This is not the first time the Israeli government has shut down free expression.
Although I am a solid Beginite, Menachem Begin while Prime Minister, did one unpardonable act: he forced Nekui Rosh (Brain Wash) off the television. He was too thin skinned to accept the caustic humor Nekui Rosh applied to all politicians. America's Laugh-in and later Saturday Night Live were/are akin to Nekui Rosh.
Warriors turned peacemakers
But he never shut down a tv station or a newspaper, despite the fact that at the time, almost all Hebrew
language newspapers were party tools.
Israel HaYom is a right-of-center publication. It's online edition at /www.israelhayom.com/ provides a sampling of its political position.
Israel HaYom, unlike most free distribution papers in the U.S. is a true newspaper. Free papers in the U.S. generally are "shoppers" containing more than 70% advertising; most "news" is nothing more than puff pieces for the advertisers. (My qualifications of writing this opinion: I was a newspaper printer, reporter, and editor for many years. I see Israel HaYom's printed edition when I visit kin in Israel.)
If shutting down Israel HaYom is Israeli democracy in action, "democracy" - such as it is in Israel - is about to disappear.
