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.
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.