Shlomo Kari
Shlomo Kari is an Israeli politician serving as the Minister of Communications for the Likud party. He is known for his efforts to reform the Israeli media market and his vocal criticism of established broadcasting bodies.
Shlomo Kari (Karhi) is a prominent member of the Likud party and currently serves as Israel's Minister of Communications. An accountant by profession with a PhD in industrial engineering and management, Kari entered the Knesset in 2019. Since assuming his ministerial role, he has been a central figure in the government's attempts to overhaul the domestic media landscape. His policy agenda focuses on increasing competition, reducing regulation for commercial broadcasters, and challenging the dominance of the public broadcaster (Kan) and established news outlets. Kari's tenure has been marked by significant friction with legal advisors and opposition figures who argue his reforms are designed to weaken independent journalism and favor media outlets aligned with the current coalition. Most recently, he has faced criticism over proposed regulations that opponents claim are specifically tailored to benefit Channel 14, a right-leaning commercial station. Supporters of Kari view him as a necessary disruptor who is breaking the perceived left-wing bias of the Israeli media establishment and promoting a truly free market. His approach emphasizes national resilience and the democratization of information, often framing his battles as a struggle against an entrenched elite. As a representative of the Likud's more ideological wing, Kari remains a key player in the broader political debate over the role of the state in regulating public discourse and the balance of power between the executive branch and independent institutions.