Israel bars scribes from voicing views on air in new law

Israel has passed a new controversial law banning journalists working for <g data-gr-id="6">state-owned</g> broadcaster from expressing their personal opinions on air, a move, journo bodies warned, could harm democracy and stifle <g data-gr-id="7">right</g> to free speech.

The law, passed by the Knesset (Israeli parliament), drew sharp criticism from journalists who accused the government of trying to suppress dissidents. The law outlines that broadcasts should “avoid one- sidedness, prejudice, expressing personal opinions, giving grades and affixing labels, ignoring facts or selectively emphasizing them not according to newsworthiness.”