High Court hears petition as public broadcaster KAN faces risk of having no council, executive

Israel's High Court of Justice is deliberating the ongoing failure to establish a functioning governing council for the public broadcaster KAN. The corporation risks operating without both a council and a permanent chief executive, a situation that has escalated due to a lack of quorum.

KAN's council currently comprises only five members out of the twelve legally mandated positions. Three of these members are serving under temporary court orders, and at least seven are required for the council to convene and make decisions. This deficit becomes particularly critical as CEO Golan Yochpaz's four-year term concludes on November 6. The council holds the statutory authority to extend his term, select a replacement, or appoint an acting chief executive, a task impossible in its current state.

Hatzlacha, a nonprofit organization, has petitioned the court to temporarily extend Yochpaz's term until 60 days after the council is restored. This proposed arrangement aims to maintain management continuity while allowing a reconstituted council time to decide on Yochpaz's future. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the five serving council members support this temporary measure, and Yochpaz has expressed willingness to continue in his role during the interim period.

However, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi opposes a court-ordered extension. His privately retained lawyer, David Peter, argues that the court lacks the authority to appoint or extend the term of KAN's chief executive. Karhi has also requested the dismissal of the petitions, asserting that subsequent developments have altered the circumstances. Wednesday's hearing addressed four remaining petitions challenging Karhi's decisions not to extend the terms of three council candidates recommended by an independent search committee, nor to appoint a fourth recommended candidate. The appointment of an acting council chair also remains unresolved, with the court having previously urged Karhi to act promptly on this matter.