Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s bill that would dramatically overhaul Israel’s media landscape passed its first reading in the Knesset early Tuesday, with 54 lawmakers voting in favor and 47 against.

The legislation would give the government significant control over broadcast media, news sites and other media, by establishing a new regulatory council, with a majority of members chosen by the communications minister, that would have an array of authorities over broadcast media, including the ability to issue hefty fines.

The attorney general, opposing the legislation, has advised that it presents “real concern of severe harm to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”

Karhi, one of the most far-right members of the Likud party, has claimed that the law would increase competition in the media market and reduce costs for content consumers. Critics say it would give the government considerable control over broadcasters and other media outlets. It requires two more votes in the Knesset plenum to become law.

According to the bill, a new Broadcast Media Authority will be established, along with a Council for the Regulation of Audio-Visual Content — to replace the Second Authority for Television and Radio, which currently regulates commercial channels, and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, which oversees cable and satellite television providers Hot and Yes.

Under the new law, the communications minister would appoint four of the seven members of the Council for the Regulation of Audio-Visual Content, while the director-general of the Communications Ministry would also appoint a member.

The council would manage and control the registry for broadcast content and news content providers, with power over registrations. All content providers, such as television channels, news websites, and streaming websites, would be obliged to register.

The council would also have powers to cancel a broadcast content provider’s registration for failing to comply with the conditions of the new legislation, and to fine commercial broadcasters a minimum of one percent of their income for violating its terms.

The bill will now advance to the Knesset Economics Committee, where it will be discussed and debated before being prepared for a second and third reading in the Knesset.

The committee is led by........

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