Surrendered? Likud considers lifting the "boycott" on Channel 12
The party is considering lifting the "boycott" imposed on interviews on the channel following reports on the "Force 100" affair. A source familiar with the details told Walla that if the boycott is lifted, Benjamin Netanyahu must make a clear statement about it, rather than allowing Likud ministers to simply return to being interviewed on the channel "as if nothing happened."
According to four sources, Walla learned today (Monday) that the Likud campaign has recently discussed the possibility of lifting the boycott imposed on interviews on Channel 12, partly out of the understanding that the party had abandoned a central media arena and that it must also reach out to voters who are not viewers of Channel 14.
According to one of the sources, some believe that the boycott was a mistake from the start and that it harmed the party. Another source argued that if the boycott is lifted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must make a clear statement about it, rather than allowing Likud ministers to simply return to being interviewed on the channel "as if nothing happened."
The source also claimed that there is an understanding within the campaign that the move should have been delayed until after the Likud primaries.
The boycott of Channel 12 has led in recent months to Likud ministers and Knesset members refraining from being interviewed on the channel, against the backdrop of their criticism of the coverage of the "Force 100" affair.
Last March, the Military Advocate General decided to cancel the indictment against the five defendants in the "Sde Teiman" affair. The decision was made after a re-examination of the totality of the evidence and circumstances in the case, and in the shadow of evidentiary difficulties and the implications of releasing the security detainee to Gaza.
In an IDF statement, it was reported that since the filing of the indictment, "significant developments" had occurred, following which the new Military Advocate General decided to cancel the legal proceedings against the five defendants.
According to the statement, the decision was made after a comprehensive review of all relevant considerations. Among other things, the Military Prosecution noted the complexity regarding the existing evidentiary infrastructure in the case and the evidentiary implications of releasing the security detainee to Gaza.
In addition, it was noted that as part of the considerations, the claim of "defense of justice" was also examined, concerning the conduct of senior officials in the Military Prosecution and the law enforcement system in the IDF in the affair, alongside exceptional and unprecedented circumstances that arose around the handling of the case.
