Last update - 00:00 22/01/2007
Freebie Israeli returns today
By Ronny Koren-Dinar and Carmel Ben-Zour
The free newspaper Israeli will be published today, even if it is unclear whether one or two editions will appear. The paper did not go out yesterday, after dropping down from two daily editions to just one last Thursday. Hirsch Media, owned by Shlomo Ben Tzvi, announced over the weekend that the free paper, distributed in railway stations and business centers, would remain at one daily edition until the end of legal proceedings.
Owners have been locked in battle over the future of the paper, which has been mired in financial debt due to lower than expected advertising revenue. Ben Tzvi yesterday scored a victory against his partner in the paper, Sheldon Adelson, owner of Newsco. The Tel Aviv District Court cancelled the appointment of an additional manager, Muriel Matalon, who was brought in at the request of Newsco. The court also ruled out levying new sanctions that would prevent publication at this stage. The decision essentially restores management of the daily to the Hirsch Media group.
Hirsch Media praised the decision, saying, "We're very happy for the dramatic change in this media saga." The company expressed willingness to go to binding arbitration with Adelson, which it claims it has offered him several times in past. Adelson's representatives, however, stated in court that they have no intention of submitting to arbitration that would decide on their dispute with Ben Zvi, despite such a recommendation by the court.