Deputy Knesset Speaker Likud MK Moshe Feiglin
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Photo credit: Lior Mizrahi |
"Mouths are being forcibly shut here. This is a law that would close down a vehicle that expresses the views of many in this country, beyond canceling a service that is provided for free," Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud) said Wednesday in reference to the anti-Israel Hayom bill.
The bill aims to outlaw newspapers that are distributed without charge.
In an interview with Arutz 7, Feiglin said that "going by that logic, Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth should have been shut down a long time ago."
Israel Hayom's detractors, he said, "claim that money is used to shape public opinion in this country. Anyone who says that against Israel Hayom should be the first to argue that all the NGOs funded not by tycoons, who are Jews incidentally, but by European countries, should also be shut down."
According to Feiglin, "Because of my rivalry with [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] I have been targeted by the newspaper, and still, the very thought of parliament shutting it down -- it is an act of silencing."
Meanwhile, the people of Israel continued to express their opposition to the bill, which has so far been delayed and will only be voted on next week. "This law is a disgrace, and it serves political agendas. All the corrupt people that do illogical things should be removed from the Knesset," said Yaki Elgazi, 32.
"Competition is a positive thing," said 26-year-old Omri Kidma. "The consumer enjoys it. This law, which is apparently motivated by ulterior motives, is wrong in my view."
"Instead of investing their efforts in the real problems we have here, MKs are fighting against a newspaper that brings news to satisfied Israelis for free," said Sigal Klein, 46.
Avshalom Hoffman, 86, said that he was "against this bill. A free paper is a good thing and Israel Hayom needs to stay free. This is an absolutely unnecessary law."
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