Israeli ministers, debating the merits and defects of the nation’s radio and television shows, rapped the television media for showing too many programs dealing with murder and violence. Some of the Cabinet ministers complained that too much time was devoted to fringe groups and not enough to the main political movements. Another complaint by the ministers was that television stressed the negative aspects of Israeli society and thereby lowered morale.
The discussion about the merits and defects of Israel’s quasi-public Broadcasting Authority during the Cabinet meeting was occasioned by the presentation of the Broadcast Authority’s new budget and the fact that Israel has a new broadcasting chief. He is Shimon Peres, the former Minister of Transport, who heads the newly established Information Ministry in the new Cabinet. He takes over responsibility for broadcasting from Deputy Premier and Education Minister Yigal Allon.
The religious ministers demanded an end to Sabbath morning television which was introduced during the Yom Kippur War but no decision was made on that point. All the ministers said they would watch with interest for changes in TV now that a new minister is in control.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
