Billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to sell control in Channel 13 to a foundation backed by a group of tech entrepreneurs, led by Wiz co-founder Assaf Rappaport.

The agreement came after Blavatnik previously accepted an offer for the TV station by a group of investors led by telecom businessman Patrick Drahi, who is widely considered to be a supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

That initial deal sparked alarm among government critics who saw it as an extension of the state’s efforts to expand its control of the media.

“Merit Foundation’s acquisition of Reshet 13 secures the channel’s future and its absolute editorial independence,” the group of tech entrepreneurs said. “By backing Merit, we are making resources and energy available that have never before been seen in an Israeli television channel, with the aim of leading digital innovation and establishing a unifying, Zionist and Israeli consensus.”

“The citizens of Israel deserve an independent, patriotic, and strong news channel,” the tech group said.

The announcement came two days after multiple anti-trust regulators cleared the acquisition of Wiz by Alphabet’s Google for a staggering $32 billion, the........

© The Times of Israel