Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an unprecedented vilification of the Israeli media on Monday, accusing a leading television journalist of being part of a plot to bring down his right-wing government.
After declining to be interviewed by Channel Two anchorwoman Ilana Dayan for a piece investigating the workings of his administration and the role his wife plays in appointing officials, Netanyahu's office sent a written statement.
Dayan read it in its entirety on air, taking six minutes to deliver the tirade against her as she stood in front of the prime minister's office.
"It is time to peel the mask off the face of Ilana Dayan, who has shown once more that she has no professional integrity," the statement said.
"Ilana Dayan is one of the leaders of an orchestrated attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, intended to topple the right-wing government and bring about the establishment of a left-wing government."
The statement referred to popular disaffection with the media -- a survey last year found two-thirds of Israelis believe the media is left-leaning -- and reiterated the need for an overhaul of national broadcasting.
It said the public had lost trust in the main media organizations, which it said had abandoned all restraint in their propaganda against Netanyahu and his Likud government.
"Dayan's show...demonstrates perfectly why the media industry needs reform. The prime minister is determined to open the market up to competition that will add a greater variety of opinions, as well as an efficient national broadcaster."
The onslaught astonished commentators. While Netanyahu is known for his fractious relationship with the media, few expected such an angry and personalized assault.
It comes at a time when he and his close associates in the Likud party face criticism for their haphazard efforts to shut down the existing state broadcaster and set up a successor.
There has also been widespread coverage of allegations by housekeepers and other employees against Netanyahu's wife, who is often portrayed as a demanding figure.
That has compounded a feud between Netanyahu and leading newspaper group Yedioth Ahronoth, which campaigned against him ahead of his reelection last year.
Netanyahu has made no secret of his dislike for Yedioth and its publisher, Noni Mozes, and has largely avoided on the record interviews with the Israeli press, preferring to distribute statements and videos by YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Critics now fear he is going after broadcast outlets.
"What we see is an across the board attempt by Mr Netanyahu and his government to control all forms of media," said Elad Man, legal adviser of media watchdog the Seventh Eye.
"I don't think we should even try to imagine what will happen to Israel as a society and a democracy if those attempts succeed."
REUTERS