The statement by the chair of the "Democrats" party, Yair Golan, to Ynet’s Moran Azoulay that Channel 14 should be shut down because it is a government propaganda channel caused a stir and opened a debate about the boundaries of freedom of expression. Many people, not just the channel's supporters, came out strongly against the idea of closing media outlets in a democratic country.

This is an important and welcome discussion, which is especially necessary to understand the insidious mechanism of platforms like Channel 14. But before diving into these murky waters, it is important to say: There is no need to "shut down Channel 14." It should simply be handled according to existing laws and regulations, and it will close itself.

If the State of Israel were to enforce the law on Channel 14, it would cease to exist because, simply put, it is a lawless channel. However, the state — even during the period of governmental change — not only does not enforce the law on Channel 14, but also grants it unprecedented and outrageous benefits.

We know that words like "regulation" immediately put people to sleep, so we'll try to reduce the sordid saga of Channel 14, the channel of the oligarch's son Yitzhak Mirilashvili, to one paragraph:

Almost from its inception, Channel 14 violated the terms of its state-issued license. Instead of acting against it, the Netanyahu governments, which it served on a daily basis, created a new set of laws that allowed it potential profits of tens of millions of shekels a year that it denied its competitors, and removed regulations worth tens of millions of shekels a year. If that weren't enough, it receives surplus government advertising worth millions of shekels a year.

And so, if we simply level the playing field, Channel 14 will be forced to shrink to its true size: something between Tov channel (an online channel peddling conspiracy theories in line with Netanyahu's "poison machine") and Likud TV. After all, the money Mirilashvili is willing to throw at it is a fraction of what a television channel actually costs.

Right: The accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the oligarch son Yitzhak Mirilashvili, owner of Channel 14, and presenters of Channel 14 (Photos: Flash90 and screenshots)

That's the simple explanation, but it would be a real shame if we missed the opportunity and stopped here. Because Channel 14 is not just another story of public corruption. Channel 14 is a sophisticated and dangerous apparatus that threatens public and state peace, and it is not singular. Neither in Israel nor in the world.

To deal with the Channel 14 phenomenon, we must understand it. To understand Channel 14, we must know that there is a new phenomenon here: not journalism or media, and also not rotten journalism or sick media. Channel 14 is the embodiment of "anti-journalism."

What is anti-journalism?

"Anti-journalism" is a concept coined by media researcher Dr. Ayala Panievsky (a member of the executive committee of "The Seventh Eye"), among other concepts, in her new book, "The New Censorship." It refers to media outlets that use the facade of journalism to spread lies, hatred, propaganda, and conspiracy theories, and to attack media outlets that insist on doing journalistic work.

In a series of public reports, "The Seventh Eye" defined what characterizes "anti-journalistic" coverage, demonstrating how it manifests itself in Channel 14’s broadcasts and why it should not be considered a journalistic media outlet.

Prime Minister Netanyahu promotes Channel 14 on his Twitter account (screenshot)

Channel 14 is a political propaganda tool. It consistently serves Netanyahu and is loyal to his talking points, regardless of ideology. The channel maintains reciprocal relations with Netanyahu’s governments, which give it enormous benefits and a huge advantage over other media outlets.

Channel 14 is a platform for consistent attacks, ongoing incitement, and a campaign to delegitimize media and journalism in Israel and state institutions: the justice system and law enforcement, academia, the security establishment, and more.

Channel 14 does all this through the regular use of fake news, misinformation, conspiracy theories, incitement to violence, war crimes, racism, encouragement of homophobia, misogyny, and opposition to secularism.

Channel 14 provides these political services in the guise of a news channel that ostensibly operates within the framework of journalistic norms and ethics, and uses the appearance of a journalistic system to seek the protections provided for journalists in law and case law.

Propaganda, Incitement, and Other Lies

The main, though not the only, characteristics of Channel 14 as an "anti-journalism" platform are its dedication to government propaganda, incitement against state institutions and free media, fake news, and conspiracy theories. Here is a brief explication:

Channel 14 is a platform for spreading government propaganda: The channel is effectively used as a "message-transmitting tool" for the Netanyahu administration, as defined by the channel's most popular broadcaster, Yinon Magal. Instead of journalistic reports and commentary, the channel's viewers receive government propaganda disguised as journalism.

A media outlet can hold an ideological or political position; that's completely legitimate. But where is the line between journalism with an ideological or political bent and propaganda? When the media serves a politician's messaging both when it's false and when it contradicts the positions that were promoted just a moment ago; when no real attention is given to other positions and messages; and when all of this is done under the pretense of "journalism" and "news."

Screenshot from the appearance of accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Channel 14, 17.6.25

One of the most significant examples of how Channel 14 personally serves Netanyahu, contrary to the simple facts and regardless of any "ideology," is the promotion of the accused Prime Minister's narrative that a "hunting expedition" (or fishing expedition, depending on the season) is under way against him, in which the law enforcement and judicial systems in Israel "stitched up criminal cases against him," which are now "collapsing," with the aim of ousting a sitting prime minister who was democratically elected.

Since the outbreak of the October 7th War, Channel 14 has joined the campaign to dodge responsibility for the incumbent prime minister's failure. The channel has ramped up its discussion of Netanyahu's messaging, according to which he is not guilty of negligence but rather the defense establishment, the IDF, the Shin Bet, the "refuseniks," the "Kaplanists," the Magistrate, the Advocate General, the Supreme Court, Ehud Barak, Aharon Barak, Shimon Peres, and perhaps even Ben-Gurion.

During the war, the channel also joined Netanyahu's cynical campaign against the families of the hostages, defining them and their struggle as political and using the same spin and toxic rhetoric against them that is being hurled at opponents of the regime coup. When Netanyahu flipped his position on the issue 180 degrees due to political constraints, the channel's coverage changed overnight. A phenomenon that has repeated itself more than once.

Even these days, Netanyahu's latest messages can be seen promoted on the channel under the guise of journalism: from the campaign to cancel his criminal trial, through the campaign against the State Commission of Inquiry, to the campaign calling for disobeying the court.

Channel 14 is a platform for spreading fake news, manipulation, and conspiracy theories: The most basic role of journalism is to reliably report reality to the public, stick to the facts, and pursue the truth. On Channel 14, however, as an anti-journalistic media outlet, truth and reality have no meaning. The channel consistently reports debunked lies, broadcasts misinformation, and spreads conspiracy theories.

Media personality Yinon Magal, screenshot from Channel 14

Channel 14 publishes fictitious and false reports, and promotes false conspiracy theories such as "traitors from within." This characteristic is closely related to the previous one: when reality clashes with and threatens government propaganda, one must lie, mislead, and spin conspiracy theories. In fact, a significant portion of government propaganda itself consists of conspiracy theories, from "Stitched Up Criminal Cases" to "Hunting Expedition" and to the "Deep State."

The spread of fake news and conspiracy theories undermines our collective perception of reality and impairs social cohesion. This is a tremendous injury to Israeli society and democracy.

Channel 14 is a platform for spreading hatred, racism, and incitement to violence: Channel 14 is dedicated to spreading inflammatory rumors about Netanyahu's opponents, from the left and from the right, in the political arena and in the civic sphere. These can be anti-government protesters, current and former opposition leaders, the legal advisor to the government, judges, journalists, teachers, academics, and any person, group, or institution that has been labeled a threat to Netanyahu's rule.

With the outbreak of the October 7th War, a relentless wave of anti-Arab agitation began, including calls for war crimes. Such statements were included in the complaint filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, in which Channel 14 was the most cited media outlet.

A police investigation is currently under way following a complaint filed by civic organizations regarding hundreds of statements by the channel and its broadcasters that incited violence, racism, and war crimes.

The incitement on Channel 14 is not the bequest of the Palestinians alone, but also of the legal system, the security establishment, the free press, and government opponents. For example, the current Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, and the previous Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, complained to the channel and the Second Authority for Television and Radio about the channel's incitement and slander against them.

A current example of Channel 14's inflammatory characteristics can be found in its "coverage" of the "Military Advocate General
affair." This is a representative case study of the manner in which Channel 14, which serves the accused Prime Minister Netanyahu, joined an incitement campaign against the legal, judicial, and media systems, which included manipulations, outright lies, and conspiracy theories.

There is no connection between legitimate and vital journalistic criticism of state institutions and consistent, repeated calls for racism and violence, while labeling individuals, groups, and institutions as traitors and collaborators with the enemy. This is not criticism; this is incitement.

Channel 14 is a platform for an attack on the Israeli media: The channel conducts a continuous attack on those who are identified as opponents of Netanyahu or as sources of power and authority that threaten Netanyahu's ambition to concentrate absolute power in his hands. A central focus of this attack, perhaps the most important of all for "anti-journalism" platforms, is the free press.

Channel 14 and its broadcasters are waging a relentless campaign of hatred and incitement against the Israeli media, whose journalists they defame as disseminators of poison and fear, collaborators with the enemy ("Al Jazeera 12"), and traitors.

Channel 14 consistently promotes government action against media outlets — for example, the channel promotes the elimination of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, the boycott of the Haaretz newspaper, and the closure of the Galei Zahal radio station — and against specific journalists such as, for instance, Amnon Abramovich and Guy Peleg, journalists for News 12.

The Danger of Channel 14

“Anti-journalism” is not just a platform for propaganda and incitement. “Anti-journalism” platforms, of which Channel 14 is not the only embodiment in Israel, are based on impersonation and deception.

The attack, the propaganda, the incitement, and the lies are created and disseminated in the guise of media publications, by journalists and from within a press organization, with all its visual and rhetorical hallmarks — from the news anchors' suits to the studio decor. However, contrary to false and misleading claims, this is not political, partisan, or ideological journalism, right-wing or traditional journalism.

This is a "news channel" that broadcasts fake news and distorted conspiracy theories as objective facts, whose "reporters" recite Netanyahu's messaging and convey reality to viewers through the prism of the interests of a single politician.

Promotion of the "Deepstate" conspiracy in connection with the “Sde Teiman” abuse affair, Channel 14 (screenshot)

A "media outlet" that dedicates itself, as part of a political campaign, to attacking real media outlets and journalists who do their job and dare to criticize the government. A "media outlet" whose "journalists" use blatantly anti-journalistic practices such as incitement to violence and racism.

For these reasons, Channel 14 is not entitled to the prestige and immunity of a journalistic media outlet. Channel 14 is not entitled to the free press protections that liberal democracies grant to journalistic media outlets. Freedom of expression is not an absolute value, and it is not intended to protect lies, propaganda, incitement, and speech that is hateful and racist.

A platform that masquerades as a news channel has a destructive influence on society. Those who consume its content receive a twisted and false picture of reality and form biased and violent attitudes and opinions. The dangers of being a political propaganda tool that spreads lies and incitement multiply when it serves an authoritarian leader who is trying to change the system of government and concentrate all governmental power in his hands.

The State of Israel is a defensive democracy. Channel 14 consistently undermines the values of democracy and liberalism. This danger is even more serious this year because we are in an election year. Yair Golan's recommendation to "close Channel 14" is too general and vague. When the government changes, it should be given substance:

Reapply to Channel 14 the regulatory restrictions that apply to every broadcast channel, which the legislature established in order to preserve freedom of the press, encourage original creation, to prevent monopolies, and more.

Begin enforcing on Channel 14 the regulations and laws that already apply to it, starting with the terms of its license and ending with the laws prohibiting incitement, racism, and support for terrorism.

And no less important: The State of Israel must reform its media regulation to deal with the rise of propaganda platforms like Channel 14. To do this, Israeli society — academia, the media, and civic organizations — must update its perceptions about freedom of expression and the press.

It is not possible for the liberal public in Israel, certainly not for its leaders, to respond in a Pavlovian, automatic, and blind manner to the plea to address the existential threat that "anti-journalism" poses to the state and to democracy.

This article was published in Hebrew on January 5, 2026
Translation: Harriet Brown