Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the vote on the broadcasting reform on Thursday afternoon, according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Knesset plenum at 17:42 Jerusalem on Thursday for the vote on Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's broadcasting reform bill, which is now underway. The arrival follows a day of anticipation after the bill was first presented for final readings early Thursday morning, with the vote expected imminently since 02:28 Jerusalem.
The thread began at 02:28 Jerusalem when MK Osher Shkalim presented the law for second and third readings, scheduling debate on reservations for 09:00 Jerusalem. By 02:28, N12's Dafna Liel reported that the vote was imminent, that Netanyahu was expected at the plenum, and that United Torah Judaism was considering boycotting the vote amid a dispute over Shabbat — reports that were repeated across successive versions. The initial reports of Netanyahu's expected arrival were later confirmed when he actually arrived at the plenum, as reported by N12 at 02:28 Jerusalem.
The bill, designed to weaken media regulation, has been a point of contention. As The Zioneer reported at 02:28 Jerusalem, the debate on reservations was scheduled for 09:00, but the vote did not occur until late afternoon, suggesting delays in coalition negotiations. The ongoing legal cases involving Netanyahu, as noted by Liel, involve regulatory benefits to media outlets, providing context to the timing of the vote.
The outcome of the vote remains unreported. It is not yet clear whether UTJ's boycott materialized or if the coalition secured the required majority. Further updates are expected as the vote concludes.
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