Initial measures for dismantling of IBA approved by Jerusalem District Court

Judge appointed attorneys Dror Vigdor and Amnon Lorch from the law firm of Yigal Arnon to deal with legal issues related to the dismantling.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
IBA logo 311 (photo credit: Courtesy of IBA)
IBA logo 311
(photo credit: Courtesy of IBA)
The Jerusalem District Court decided on an initial measure in the dismantling of the Israel Broadcasting Authority on Monday, including disposal of its assets such as buildings and equipment, and the dismissal of its almost 2,000 workers.
A final agreement has yet to be reached on the workers’ compensation. Some of the current IBA staff will be employed in a new public broadcasting entity which is scheduled to go into operation some time between March and June 2015, but rights accumulated in collective agreements signed by various unions within the IBA and with IBA management, will not be transferable.
The court agreed with Prof.
David Hahn, the receiver and liquidator of the Israel Broadcasting Authority’s request that Yona Wiesenthal be appointed editor-in-chief of the public broadcasting authority.
This decision would grant him complete authority to oversee its management in accordance with Article 99 of the public broadcasting law and in deference to the liquidator’s instructions.
Judge David Mintz approved Wiesenthal’s salary, though the court did not publish the sum.
Mintz appointed attorneys Dror Vigdor and Amnon Lorch from Yigal Arnon and Partners law firm to deal with the legal issues related to the dismantling and to be answerable to the liquidator.
He likewise approved payments to individuals holding specific positions, such as the editor-in-chief, who will be required to sign guarantees of NIS 250,000 to ensure their loyalty to the conditions under which they were appointed.
Moreover, given an anticipated economic slowdown in the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge, it is possible that the liquidator will be unable to sell off IBA’s assets within the given time frame. If that occurred, there would be insufficient funds for severance pay for dismissed workers and the dismantling process could be held up indefinitely.