JERUSALEM – Israel's prime minister has reached a deal with his finance minister over the fate of the country's state-run broadcasting authority, defusing a crisis that threatened to force early elections but drawing criticism that he was trying to weaken a critical media.
At issue is the future of the struggling state-run Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Benjamin Netanyahu had initially ordered it shut down and replaced with a new corporation, only to reverse course once its emerging personnel did not seem favorable to his administration. The crisis drew speculation Netanyahu's coalition could fall.
Thursday's compromise will have a new broadcaster airing soon but without a news division. Netanyahu has long tried to curb his many detractors in the media.
Opposition lawmaker Zahava Galon said the move gives Netanyahu "unprecedented control over news broadcasts."
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