Why Censorship of the Israeli Media Has Grown Under Netanyahu

Why Censorship of the Israeli Media Has Grown Under Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference at his office, Jerusalem, Nov. 14, 2015 (AP photo by Tsafrir Abayov).

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series about press freedom and safety in various countries around the world.

Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli media has seen a disturbing trend of increased political interference.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, faces a growing list of political scandals, including his attempts to manipulate the Israeli media and interfere with press coverage. In one case, Netanyahu is alleged to have offered the owner of the popular newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Arnon Mozes, a deal for more positive coverage in exchange for curbing the circulation of one of its competitors. In an email interview, Karin Karlekar, director of PEN America’s Free Expression at Risk Program and former director of Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press project, discusses the state of Israel’s media environment and Netanyahu’s track record on press freedom.

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