Aborted ‘On the Home Front’ project reportedly would have seen newsroom produce articles, documentary about civilian security squads that the far-right minister has championed.
The Walla news site’s advertising department reportedly offered to produce a roughly $200,000 promotional campaign for Itamar Ben Gvir’s National Security Ministry that would run from next month until a few days before the October 27 election.
The proposal, which failed to materialize, would have seen Walla’s newsroom produce articles, a documentary series and a special broadcast about the kitot konenut, or civilian security squads, that the far-right minister has championed since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, Haaretz reported on Monday. The proposed project was reportedly called “On the Home Front.”
The content, which would have borne a full disclosure of the National Security Ministry’s involvement, would also have been promoted on the 99FM and 103FM radio stations, as well as the Hamal news app, all of which are owned by Walla owner Eli Azur, according to Haaretz.
The Walla news site’s advertising department reportedly offered to produce a roughly $200,000 promotional campaign for Itamar Ben Gvir’s National Security Ministry that would run from next month until a few days before the October 27 election.
The proposal, which failed to materialize, would have seen Walla’s newsroom produce articles, a documentary series and a special broadcast about the kitot konenut, or civilian security squads, that the far-right minister has championed since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, Haaretz reported on Monday. The proposed project was reportedly called “On the Home Front.”
The content, which would have borne a full disclosure of the National Security Ministry’s involvement, would also have been promoted on the 99FM and 103FM radio stations, as well as the Hamal news app, all of which are owned by Walla owner Eli Azur, according to Haaretz.
Civilian security teams provide security to small towns and communities in Israel’s periphery and the West Bank settlements, some of which helped defend residents from the Hamas attack.
Ben Gvir is planning an event to honor security squad volunteers ahead of the election, and a senior law enforcement official described the volunteers as potential Ben Gvir voters, Haaretz said.
A senior Walla official cited by Haaretz said the promotional campaign fell through because of the proximity to the election.
But Haaretz said Walla approached the National Security Ministry close to the Knesset’s dispersal this month, when the timing of the election was already known.
Haaretz also cited a source in Walla as saying the proposal made to the National Security Ministry was “unprecedented” and “unconscionable.”
“I don’t recall Walla conducting talks with government ministries, not least in such a sensitive election period,” the source said.
The Walla news site’s advertising department reportedly offered to produce a roughly $200,000 promotional campaign for Itamar Ben Gvir’s National Security Ministry that would run from next month until a few days before the October 27 election.
The proposal, which failed to materialize, would have seen Walla’s newsroom produce articles, a documentary series and a special broadcast about the kitot konenut, or civilian security squads, that the far-right minister has championed since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, Haaretz reported on Monday. The proposed project was reportedly called “On the Home Front.”
The content, which would have borne a full disclosure of the National Security Ministry’s involvement, would also have been promoted on the 99FM and 103FM radio stations, as well as the Hamal news app, all of which are owned by Walla owner Eli Azur, according to Haaretz.
Civilian security teams provide security to small towns and communities in Israel’s periphery and the West Bank settlements, some of which helped defend residents from the Hamas attack.
Ben Gvir is planning an event to honor security squad volunteers ahead of the election, and a senior law enforcement official described the volunteers as potential Ben Gvir voters, Haaretz said.
A senior Walla official cited by Haaretz said the promotional campaign fell through because of the proximity to the election.
But Haaretz said Walla approached the National Security Ministry close to the Knesset’s dispersal this month, when the timing of the election was already known.
Haaretz also cited a source in Walla as saying the proposal made to the National Security Ministry was “unprecedented” and “unconscionable.”
“I don’t recall Walla conducting talks with government ministries, not least in such a sensitive election period,” the source said.
In a response to Haaretz, Walla declined to comment on “commercial issues related only to the commercial department.”
Walla added that all its promotional material “includes disclaimers as required by the law,” and that the news site would not make promotional campaigns for government ministries so close to the election.
Walla newsroom chief Ilil Shahar said in a statement that the newsroom is independent and works separately from the site’s advertising department.
“To the extent there were any offers exchanged between the promotional content department and the National Security Ministry, those didn’t reach the newsroom, nor would they have,” Shahar said.
The ministry itself denied receiving any offer to cooperate with the Walla news site.
