3 big Israeli cable networks are planning to remove CNN from the screens. According to polls, 68% of the Israelis watch that network and 73% object removing it. The removal is scheduled at the start of November, when the agreement between the CNN to the cable companies expires.

The cable companies, who suffer a great financial crisis (which doesn't prevent them from paying a high salary to their CEOs) claim they are removing the CNN because they are trying to reduce content costs and they could not reach an agreement with the CNN. Surprisingly, the moves to remove CNN started after Ted Terner, the founder of the CNN compared Israel to the Palestinians, saying both are terrorizing each other. While it is arguable that terrorism is equal to counter terrorism, this incident can't be a cover up for hijacking an important TV channel.

Sources in the Israeli Satellite company, "YES", which continuing to broadcast the channel say that political pressures have been activated on them and on the cable companies to stop the broadcast because the expression of the network's founder.

The cable companies offer Fox News as an alternative. This is not an alternative to the large, international network. While it might show Israel in a bit more positive light, this is not a criterion for a news network. It can't compete a comprehensive international news channel.

This is not a censorship, and Israel is not going to be the next world country to boycott CNN (the satellite will keep broadcasting it). But as a viewer, that lives in a Kibbutz and obliged to pay to the Cable Company, I can demand to get CNN. I pay in order to get some important international channels. The cable companies are betraying their customers. Since Sky News is more British than international, they are not an alternative to CNN. Removing the CNN will result in giving the BBC a monopoly over the foreign news of the cables. This is a fine channel, but I really liked balancing it with the CNN.

The day the CNN fades off the screen will be a dark day in the already dirty history of the Israeli Cable companies. This channel should not be prevented from the cable viewers, who form the majority of the Israelis. It is bad for democracy and bad for Israel. Even protesting the way CNN shows Israel, boycotting and ignoring it is not the solution, especially when the CNN is a way less biased than the European networks. Stop broadcasting it will not make it disappear. It can only cripple our ability to fight the bias.