2014-01-07

Last year when Gilad Erdan, Minister of Communications, decided to set up a search committee to find a new manager for the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, I’lam sent him a personal letter demanding that he recruit Arab members to ensure adequate Arab representation.

In the original letter, I’lam said the committee would have 5 members. Three would represent realms of public life: the first for news, the second for the economy, and the third for academia. I’lam hoped that one of these would be an Arab.

Recently, Ron Doul, legal counsel to Israel’s Civil Service Commission, responded by letter to I’lam’s demand. He said there was not enough time to recruit Arab members, and that he informed the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Attorney General, the Council for Higher Education, and the Civil Service Commission of I’lam’s letter. By informing them, he claimed he was “making an attempt to find Arab members, despite that the law does not require it.”

Doul explained that future considerations will be made to appoint Arabs to similar committees. He assured that the current committee is professional, its members are highly qualified, and they come from several sectors of the population. He did not say who they were.

I’lam reiterated its commitment to ensuring Arab participation in determining the policies of the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, especially given that Arabs make up a significant portion of its viewership.

I’lam’s demand is fundamentally based on Article 18 of the Government Companies Law of 1975 and the Service (Appointments) Law of 1959. I’lam also pointed out that unlike what Doul claimed, several decisions by the Israeli courts oblige government institutions to appoint a sufficient number of Arabs to government positions.