Last Update: 28/12/2003 15:22

By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent


The government on Sunday approved a bill legalizing Arutz 7 radio
broadcasts, the settlers' radio station. Industry and Trade Minister Ehud
Olmert raised the issue in coordination with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.


The bill, formulated over the past few months, states that the government
will be able to establish a designated radio channel that will cater for
different sectors in society, such as new immigrants and religious Jews.

The High Court of Justice in March 2002 ruled unanimously that the amendment
to the Bezeq Law that enabled Arutz 7 , the right-wing pirate radio station,
to broadcast, is illegal since it violates the Basic Law on Freedom of
Occupation.

Minister from all parties supported the bill, except for Shinui ministers,
most of whom abstained. Interior Minister Avraham Poraz was the only
minister who objected to the bill proposal. "Legalizing Arutz 7 will be a
trophy for delinquency and for those who have broken the law for years,"
Poraz said, and added that when he was chairman of the Knesset Economics
Committee, he offered Arutz 7 managers several solution, which they turned
down.

Shas chairman Eli Yishai congratulated the government decision, but attacked
the government ministry for discriminating against other religious-oriented
radio channels and called on the Communications Ministry to take action
regarding these channels.

Labor MK Ophir Pines vowed that the opposition would make every effort to
prevent the Knesset from passing the law, which would legalize a radio
channel that has been operation illegally for seven years.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/376852.html