Amsallem's on first
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Who will divide Jerusalem,
who will restore past glory and who will assure us that our lives will be satisfactory?
MK Chaim Amsallem, a former Shas member and current chairman of the Am Shalem movement, is the opening act. Each roster will be allotted air time in accordance with the number of mandates they have in the outgoing Knesset. Thus, Kadima, which is wavering in the polls, is expected to be heard more than most other parties.
The 19th Knesset election campaign ads will hit the airwaves on Tuesday and for the first time in history they will be broadcasted on Army Radio.
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Bid to disqualify Otzma LeYisrael rejected
MK Chaim Amsallem, a former Shas member and current chairman of the Am Shalem movement, is the opening act. Each roster will be allotted air time in accordance with the number of mandates they have in the outgoing Knesset. Thus, Kadima, which is wavering in the polls, is expected to be heard more than most other parties.
Central Election Committee Chairman Justice Elyakim Rubinstein decided on Monday night to disqualify part of the Balad party's ad after it was determined that it "distorts and ridicules the 'Hatikva,' Israel's national anthem."
In their ad, a cartoon of former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is seen singing the national anthem in an Arabic accent.
Justice Rubinstein noted that "disgracing the symbols of the State, a Jewish and democratic state, as part of any party's election propaganda, is unacceptable to me."
Balad responded by saying that "the disqualification of the broadcast is a continuation of the silencing and intimidation efforts against the Balad list and its constituents."
In addition, portions of the Otzma LeYisrael broadcast were acquiescently removed and Justice Rubinstein is considering disqualifying another part of the party's ad, in which MK Arieh Eldad (National Union) and MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) are speaking amongst them in Arabic.
The order in which the parties will appear was determined by a draw and in accordance with Justice Rubinstein's precedent decision. The large parties tried altering the justice's decision and to determine that things "remain as they were."
To date, the large parties were those to determine the broadcasting order, but Justice Rubinstein determined on Monday that the raffle system will not be changed.
Broadcasts in Arabic, Russian too
The broadcasts will begin on Tuesday. On Channel 1 they will begin at 10 pm except for on January 14 – when the broadcast will begin at 7 pm.Broadcasts on Channel 2 will begin at 11:20 pm and on Channel 10 at 6 pm.
The broadcasts in Arabic will appear on Channel 33 at 5:30 pm on Channel 2 at 4:15 pm and on Channel 10 at 4:00 pm.
Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) radio station Reshet Bet will broadcast three times a day: Following the 8 am news, 2 pm news and 6 pm news.
The Army Radio broadcasts will generally be at 8:30 pm, but on Wednesday they will begin at 8:20 pm. The Arabic radio broadcasts will be at 9:35 am and 7:35 pm and in Russian on the Reka Network at 8 am and 5 pm.
Telem Yahav is a Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent
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