What’s happening:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is courting Jared Kushner, former Senior Advisor to ex-U.S. President Donald Trump and a major stakeholder in various businesses, to invest in a new Israeli media venture reminiscent of Fox News. This channels Netanyahu’s broader objectives to diversify the country’s media landscape.
Why it matters:
Netanyahu’s initiative resonates with his ongoing efforts to reshape the Israeli media environment, reflecting a desire for media outlets that align more closely with his right-wing ideologies. His proposed overhaul comes at a time when established media houses hold a critical stance towards some of his policies, particularly the recent judicial reforms.
The big picture:
Netanyahu, who has been looking to renovate the Israeli media scene to introduce more right-leaning platforms, believes that partnering with influential figures like Kushner could pave the way for this transformation. Kushner has a track record in media ownership with the New York Observer and has extensive financial resources through his real estate and private equity ventures, including Affinity Partners. His ties with significant Middle Eastern investors hint at potential heavy-weight backing for a media foray in Israel.
Deep dive:
Jared Kushner, who currently retains a 15% stake in Shlomo Group’s automotive and finance business worth $110 million, has a history of engagement with Israel, highlighted by his recent visit with Ivanka Trump in solidarity after the October 7 massacre. His interests in the region and in media ownership suggest a vested pathway for Netanyahu to pursue the Fox News-style channel.
Behind the scenes:
Apart from Kushner, Prime Minister Netanyahu has also tapped into his international connections by meeting with Lachlan Murdoch, head of News Corp, which is Fox News’ parent company. Netanyahu’s overture to Murdoch reflects a strategic approach to import known and successful models into the Israeli context.
Context:
The push for new voices in the Israeli media comes amid an increasingly polarized domestic scene, where all mainstream outlets have subjected Netanyahu’s governance to continuous scrutiny. Such investments and media transformations could lead to a pivotal shift in Israel’s information ecosystem, thus reverberating through the political corridors and the general public debates alike.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.