Index 2023
97/ 180
Score : 57.57
Political indicator
59
62.71
Economic indicator
45
57.52
Legislative indicator
132
47.17
Social indicator
58
76.14
Security indicator
134
44.30
Index 2022
86/ 180
Score : 59.62
Political indicator
58
65.15
Economic indicator
44
55.10
Legislative indicator
130
53.51
Social indicator
56
77.75
Security indicator
126
46.61

The Israeli media landscape has been destabilised following the rise to power of a government that threatens freedom of the press. 

Media landscape

The leading privately owned TV channel, Channel 12, and Israel’s public radio and TV broadcaster hold an important place in the media landscape. Ynet is the most widely read news website, while the daily newspaper Haaretz has a great deal of influence despite a limited number of readers. The dailies Yedioth Ahronoth and the free-of-charge Israel Hayom (Israel Today) are the leading print media competitors. Israel also has Arabic and Russian-language media outlets, and an openly partisan press catering to ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Political context

Politicians have a great deal of influence over appointments to the broadcasting regulators. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, who has enjoyed Israel Hayom’s unfailing support for more than a decade, is accused in corruption cases of trying to influence the editorial policies of several media outlets in exchange for political favours.

Legal framework

Under Israel’s military censorship, reporting on a variety of security issues requires prior approval by the authorities. In addition to the possibility of civil defamation suits, journalists can also be charged with criminal defamation and “insulting a public official”. There is a freedom of information law but it is sometimes hard to implement. The confidentiality of sources is not protected by statutory law but by case law.

Economic context

Israel’s media are centralised and unprofitable. They are often owned by large corporations or businessmen who are difficult to investigate and who use them to pressure regulators and elected officials.

Sociocultural context

Arab journalists in Israel encounter more difficulties in their work than their non-Arab counterparts, above all because of the tensions inherent in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gangs restrict the Arab media’s coverage of criminal activity, while women are almost completely excluded from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish media.

Safety

Palestinian journalists are systematically subjected to violence as a result of their coverage of events in the West Bank, and Israeli reporters are barred from entering the Gaza Strip. The 2022 assassination of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli security forces remains unpunished, despite strong pressure from the international community and the Israeli authorities’ admission. The climate of impunity has only increased violence against Palestinian journalists in Israel, as well as in the West Bank and Gaza.