The chairman of the Economy Committee, MK David Bitan, opposes the closure of the Kan broadcasting corporation, as planned by Communications Minister Shlomo Kari.
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""At the time, I wanted to close the corporation and leave the Broadcasting Authority with certain changes, in order to solve the problem there. I wanted to protect the employees and the authority. It is forbidden to harm the employees," Bitan said in an interview with Efi Trigger on Galei Tzahal.
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He added: "Overall, the channel is managing to make progress, slowly but beautifully, and in things that are not usually found on commercial channels. There is no reality show there. I think we need to come and see what the flaws are that we think this channel currently has and try to solve them, and not close it down completely.".
When asked what he would do in the Economic Affairs Committee if Kari's plan reaches its doorstep, he said: "If I decide to block it, I will not discuss it. I think that right now, in light of the fact that they are making progress and that there are many workers there for whom this is their livelihood, I don't think we should do it right now.".
In the past, Bitan believed that the broadcasting corporation should be closed. In 2016, he claimed in an interview with Channel 12: "The corporation was hijacked by people whose agenda is leftist and anti-government. The initiative to close the corporation came from me - not from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was convinced that I was right. We see where the corporation is going. It is completely clear to us that this corporation will be clearly leftist. It cannot be one-sided. This is clear from its composition and from what they say.".
The things Bitan is saying today are not surprising, because in recent months he has been expressing positions that are contrary to those of his party members.
