The crises surrounding the closure of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and establishment of a new public broadcasting entity that threatened the coalition government has been resolved. It is reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon reached agreement, bringing an end to this particular coalition crises.

PM Netanyahu revealed the matter had been resolved during a press conference with Slovak President Andrej Kiska. The solution simply states the new public broadcasting entity will be created but staffed by the old staff that was to be fired from the IBA. Hence, their jobs are safe but a new director-general will stand at the helm, one who will be selected by a committee. The launch date has been extended from April 30th to May 15th. This is all based on the assumption the coalition will approve the agreement during a special Knesset session which will interrupt spring break.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)