The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is furious at the decision by the Second Television and Radio Broadcasting Authority to allow "Judea and Samaria Radio" to change its name to "Radio Israel". The IBA intends to petition the courts for an injunction against the decision. "Judea and Samaria Radio", owned by Gal Hadarom Ltd., went on the air under its new name today.
The IBA says that its public radio service, "Kol Israel" (The Voice of Israel) is the only service permitted to bear the name "Israel". A senior IBA official said, "This is deceit being practiced on the listeners and on the public." He added that "Kol Israel" broadcasts were cited throughout the world as Israel Radio, and that it is known as an objective and bias-free station.
The official said, "Use of the name 'Israel' by a radio station that serves only the population that resides beyond the Green Line is liable to cause us harm."
"Radio Israel" CEO Yehoshua Mor Yosef said, "The name 'Israel' belongs to the whole nation, and not only IBA. We see no reason for anger, we intend to be a national Zionist radio station that will interest all of Israeli society."
The IBA said, "The IBA strongly opposes the request of "Judea and Samaria Radio" to change its name and we will use all the means at our disposal to prevent this."
At issue is not a change in name, but the station's first officially licensed name.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 21, 2010
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