There is a Yiddish expression with many variations that is transliterated as “ver es hat di gelt makht di gezetsn” loosely translated as “He who has the money makes the rules.” Or, as Tevye sang in Fiddler on the Roof, “When you’re rich, they think you really know!”

I was reminded of this today when I read that Israel’s Ministry of Communications removed a clause from a draft communications law that would have required foreign streaming services to transfer part of their revenue in Israel toward the production of locally produced content. Why? Because a directive to do so came through from the White House. “He who has the money makes the rules.”

A new broadcasting law currently being debated by a Knesset committee dealing with such issues seeks to impose on Israeli broadcasters a number of new regulations. One of those aims to subject international streaming companies such as Netflix, Apple, Disney and HBO Max, currently operating in Israel with minimal regulation, to partial regulatory oversight.

One provision that the streaming companies seem to be unhappy about is a requirement that any “international content provider” such as those listed,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)