Israel Matzav

Government television to broadcast Leftist rally Saturday night

Government television's Channel 1 has decided to broadcast the annual Leftist rally at which the Right is denigrated each year for murdering peace (sometimes known as the Yitzchak Rabin Memorial). The rally has been so poorly attended in recent years that there is talk of canceling it next year to avoid embarrassment.

Channel 1 has decided to broadcast a memorial rally for Yitzchak Rabin on Saturday night, reversing an earlier decision not to broadcast it. Channel 1 joins Hot Cable Channel 8 as the only Israeli media outlets to offer a direct video broadcast of the rally.

The original decision not to broadcast the rally, as neither commercial channels 2 and 10 are, generated a great deal of animosity on the left. Leaders of various leftist groups organized letter writing campaigns and asked Knesset members to get involved – and on Tuesday night, Channel 1 relented, announcing it would broadcast the rally. Organizers of the effort to force the broadcast praised Channel 1 director Amir Gilat and Israel Broadcast Authority chairman Moti Shklar for the change.

Yitzchak Rabin must be rolling over in his grave.

For those who missed it on Saturday night (yes, you really do have to read this blog 24/6), let's go to the videotape.



Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:54 PM