Arutz 7 returned to the air yesterday from the high seas after being off the air on AM and FM for the past four days because of stormy weather we have had here in Israel.

Last Tuesday, the stormy weather endangered the "Eretz Hatzvi" (Arutz 7's boat), and the Israeli navy, police and others advised the boat to find a port to take cover in, until the storms passed over.

After careful consideration, the captain, with the agreement of the Arutz 7 management, anchored the boat in the port of Haifa . Maariv writes "The Arutz 7 management decided to cease all broadcasts as soon as the boat entered Israeli territorial waters, for fear of breaking Israeli law." As you all know, Arutz 7 has always anchored WITHIN Israeli territorial waters, as the trip that Martin and I took last November proved. So this above statement is just "for show". During the four days that the station was off the air on AM and FM, Internet broadcasts continued as usual. 

The weather here in Israel has calmed down,and winter has finally arrived in Israel. Today is a sunny, but cool 18 degrees C - the rain is due to return on Thursday, but not with the stormy conditions that we have witnessed over the past week or so.

The sad end of the radioship King David

On Thursday January 13th I took the following pictures of the radioship King David (formerly housing Arutz 2000) that had run aground at Tel Baruch beach on January 5th 2000.

Another boat that didn´t fulfill the dreams...

Paul Rusling commented: Faint chance she is salvable however, but beam-on to the beach like that suggests potential problems. The ships are designed to "take the ground" however and skeletal structure doesn´t usually result from such accurences. I note from the damage to paintwork at the two emergency anchor slots that they must have been using those and not the main anchor hole. Certainly not a good idea in a storm and one reason she probably turned wrongly and came "off the hook". Why oh why don´t these operations use proper mariners?!

Read The End of the Radioship King David? and find even more pictures

Officials in the Israel Water Commission hope that the current stormy spell will significantly increase the level of the Kinneret Sea. It is now five centimeters over the red line - three centimeters higher than yesterday - and is expected to continue to rise as a result of the strong flow from northern streams. According to Israel and European meteorological forecasts, the rest of the winter will bring more rain than originally anticipated. The storm resumed late this afternoon, and snowstorms are raging on Mt. Hermon. 

Because of the stormy weather, the Arutz-7 ship must anchor closer to shore - "with two anchors, and not one, because of the exceptionally high waves and winds," according to the ship's captain Avner Gilad - and cannot transmit radio broadcasts. Music, news and commentary can continue to be heard continuously over Arutz-7's internet site.

Rains continue to fall in the north, and the high winds will resume tomorrow. The level of the Kinneret Sea was measured at -212.98 meters this morning, which is two centimeters above the red line. Thousands of consumers were without electricity for varying amounts of time last night and this morning, due to storm-related outages. Broadcasts from Arutz-7's ship have been suspended for the past two days, although news, commentary, and music continued to be heard over Arutz-7's internet site. Regular broadcasts are expected to resume this evening.

Taken from Arutz 7's website:

Heavy Storm

The expected heavy storm will arrive tonight, and will continue until tomorrow afternoon. Snow is anticipated on Mt. Hermon, and heavy rains will fall in northern Israel. The storm will resume on Thursday, and snow is forecasted for the Galilee. Broadcasts from Arutz-7's ship have been suspended, but news, commentary, and music can be heard continuously over Arutz-7's internet site at www.a7.org...  

Justice Minister Yossi Beilin says he has despaired of solving the issue of licensing radio stations. He says that he is willing for the Supreme Court to nullify the Arutz-7 law even before a new law is passed. Arutz-7 Executive Director Yaakov (Ketzaleh) Katz says, however, that that will not happen, as "the Supreme Court does not work according to the dictates of the Prosecution or the Justice Ministry, and Knesset Legal Counsel Tzvi Inbar has already determined that the law is perfectly legal." Today's meeting of the ministerial committee scheduled to vote on a new law has been postponed until further notice.

Work on a bill to replace the currently-frozen Arutz-7 law is well underway. Ministers Yosi Beilin and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer have scheduled a vote for this Sunday in the relevant ministerial committee on the new bill.

The existing bill grants a license to Arutz-7 and two hareidi stations, but its implementation has been held up by the Supreme Court. Shas Ministers Yeshai and Benizri say that Sunday's vote is an unfair "snatch," and they threaten a coalition crisis if the vote is not postponed. Shas and Arutz-7 proponents fear that the purpose of the new law is simply to establish a station that will replace their stations.

According to Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein, certain elements in the Government are attempting to temper crackdowns on pirate radio stations "which they hold dear," HA'ARETZ reported.

Rubinstein's comments appeared in letters sent by his office to citizens protesting the actions taken by the police and the Ministry of Communications against Arutz 7. The letters stated that federal action against illegal radio stations does not differentiate between them and have included, within the last six months, measures against 65 illegal stations throughout the country.

The King David, the ship that housed the former Arutz 2000 offshore radio station, ran aground in heavy storms that hit Israel yesterday. In a picture that appeared in the Hebrew daily "Maariv", there was a picture that was printed with the caption "fishing boat runs aground on the Tel Baruch beach". It was with a collection of pictures that were printed to show the damage the storm caused in and off Israel.

After looking at the "fishing boat", I noticed that it looked familiar, and after looking at the picture a little closer, was convinced that it was the King David. I could make out the lightship tower, (which had thick cables coming from it, and there was no antenna!), and the guard rails on the back of the ship. Add to this, the rust that was so evident when Martin and I went out to the ships in November, showed up in the colour picture.

The ships antenna must of been ripped off of its base, and the ship ran aground on a Tel-Aviv beach. I have written to the editor of Maariv to inform him of the true identity of the "fishing boat" that ran aground.

So at the begining of a new century / milennium, the world has only one fully operational true offshore radio station - Arutz 7 - which, despite all the bad weather, continues to broadcast as normal.

The Ministerial Legislative Committee will vote Sunday on a new government bill aimed at annulling last May's "Arutz-7 Law" and replacing it with a bill establishing three special-interest radio stations. Communications Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer explained to the Knesset yesterday that the bill's goal is to solve the long-standing problem of the lack of licensed stations representing the hareidi and Yesha publics. Arutz-7 correspondent Ariel Kahane reports, however, that some committee members - such as Ministers Natan Sharansky (Yisrael B'Aliyah), Rabbi Yitzchak Levy (NRP), and Shlomo Benizri (Shas) - appear to be convinced that the government's purpose is merely to overturn the law licensing Arutz-7 and grant its license to another body from Judea and Samaria instead.

Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, chairing the ministerial committee meeting yesterday, opened it by demanding that an aide to Minister Benizri leave the room since he [the aide] "broadcasts regularly on one of the unlicensed religious stations." Benizri declared, "I, too, regularly broadcast on one of these stations, and if he goes, so do I!" and stormed out of the meeting. His party colleague, Minister Eli Yeshai, was ambivalent about the proposed bill, saying that he could not meaningfully discuss the issue or vote on it, as "Benizri is more familiar with the issues."

NRP leader Rabbi Yitzchak Levy objected to the long period of time - "probably 18 to 24 months," he said - between the immediate closing of existing stations, mandated by the bill, and the opening of new ones. Minister Sharansky said that the bill does not relate to the needs of Russian immigrants, and in any event, "Arutz-7 must not be closed in the interim period before the formation of the new stations. Closing Arutz-7 specifically at this time when the Golan is at stake will create the impression of 'shutting mouths.'" Attorney Didi Lachman-Messer represented the State Prosecution. "You're all lawbreakers and deserve to be closed down," she shouted. MK Benny Elon (National Union) told the Knesset that "the new bill is just a cover for a deliberate effort to close down Arutz-7." Earlier today, Shas called an urgent meeting on the matter, and rumors were rampant that the party might initiate a new coalition crisis over the issue. MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) was skeptical that this would happen, however. He told Arutz-7 today that a deal has already been struck between Communications Minister Ben-Eliezer and Minister Benizri, and that one of three new stations would be given to Shas. "Benizri can have the best of both worlds," Hendel lamented. "Knowing that there will be a majority in the committee in favor of the bill, Shas can vote against it in the committee, thus gaining points for him with the NRP, Arutz-7, and others, and he is nevertheless guaranteed a new station."

On March 28th 2000 Radio Northsea International is set to make a second return to the airwaves following last summer's broadcast off the coast of Clacton on Sea (that will be exactly 30 years and 5 days after the Mebo 2 headed for her new position off Clacton - the editor).

Station Manager Paul Graham said, "Last August's broadcast proved to be a success with both listeners and advertisers. Many people have fond memories of the original RNI, so with the help once again of sea containers who own light vessel 18, we plan to broadcast from the ship which is currently moored at the old railway pier in Harwich. We shall bring back once again all the great memories of this once loved station including the music of the early seventies, when the original ship Mebo 2 was on the air. There will be no computers running RNI and unlike today's commercial stations we will be hands on and personal with the listener."

Potential sponsors and advertisers are now being sought and RNI will be heard on 190 metres medium wave, 1566 kilohertz. The station will this time operate from the river Stour and should be audible across North Essex and South Suffolk and listeners will be able to visit the ship. Mr Graham said "We have been trying to relocate the ship into Ipswich wet dock during the last couple of months, but sadly we have not been successful in finding a berth for the winter."

The forthcoming broadcast will be helping to raise funds for the 4th Dovercourt sea scouts who need to raise about £165,000 for a new building in Barrack Lane, Dovercourt. Mr Ted Staker of the sea scouts said "I'm delighted that RNI will be supporting us via the broadcast," and he added "It will also give the sea scouts some hands on experience of working on a large ship and in assisting with crewing duties on board."

For more information on RNI in 2000, call Paul Graham on +44 - 1255 672531 or write to 73b Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea, Essex CO13 9DD.

The final figure that was reached in the Arutz 7 telethon was over two and a half million shekels (around about $600,000). This figure was reached in under two days. The money will be used for repairing equipment that was damaged in the police raid of last week of the studios of the pirate radio station. It looks like that there will even be money left over to purchase a mobile studio. Tens of thousands of people took part in telethon, donating amounts from ten shekels ($ 2.50) to $20,000.

Find a comprehensive news bulletin on last weeks´s Arutz-7 police raid and next days´ media coverage by CLICKING HERE.

Herinneringen aan Radio Mi Amigo deel 1

VOOR VELEN EEN MOOIE HERINNERING 

Radio Mi Amigo ligt niet alleen bij de Vlaamse maar ook bij de Nederlandse, en vreemd genoeg ook bij sommige Britse luisteraars, nog steeds als een goede herinnering in het geheugen. Natuur-lijk kun je zeggen dat het station op haar eerste uitzenddag, 1 januari 1974, geen beroerdere start had kunnen hebben. Reeds na ruim één uur van uitzendingen verdween het station uit de ether nadat de generator op het Carolinezendschip, waar de eigenaar van Radio Mi Amigo, Sylvain Tack, zendtijd had gehuurd, het had begeven. De rest van die officiële startdatum was het stil op de 259 meter, één van de vele door het station gebruikte frequenties in de periode januari 1974 - oktober 1978. Vreemd genoeg zou men ook tijdens de laatste uitzending plotseling uit de ether verdwijnen als gevolg van generatorstoringen. Ikzelf heb mijn eerste herinnering aan Radio Mi Amigo een paar maanden eerder dan de bewuste uitzenddag. In september 1973 had de BUMA, de auteurs en muziekrechtenorganisatie, een brief geschreven naar Andy Archer van het Carolinekantoor, destijds gevestigd aan de Van Hoogendorpstraat in Den Haag. Hierin had men hem nogmaals - als programmadirecteur van het station - gewezen op het feit dat men verplicht was rechten te betalen voor de gedraaide muziek in de programma's. Aangezien het zendschip, de MV Mi Amigo, destijds voor de Nederlandse kust was verankerd, meende de BUMA deze rechten te kunnen innen. Archer meldde me begin oktober dat de BUMA een rechtzaak had aangespannen omdat de Caroline-organisatie de rechten niet wenste te betalen. Andy vertelde me toen dat men problemen had omdat het dossier onvindbaar was op het Carolinekantoor. Toevalligerwijs had ik enkele weken eerder een groot aantal brieven, foto's en programmatapes onder ogen gekregen, die waren gestolen door een fervente Caroline-aanhanger uit Friesland. Ik had toen kopieën gevraagd van de brieven, omdat daar wel wat interessante stukken tussen zaten, waaronder de BUMA-brieven. Ik meldde dit aan Archer, die mij - heel blij - verzocht met spoed de brieven te brengen en tevens te verschijnen tijdens de rechtzaak om uitleg te geven inzake de problemen die er met de correspondentie waren geweest. Nadat de rechtzaak had plaatsgevonden in Amsterdam ging ik met de mensen van de Carolineorganisatie naar de Van Hoogendorpstraat in Den Haag en liet Archer me de bovenverdieping zien, waar op dat moment de laatste hand werd gelegd aan de nieuwe studio's, die - zo lag in de bedoeling - spoedig in gebruik zouden worden genomen. Als dank voor mijn werkzaamheden gaf hij me een kopie van de mastertape van jingles, geproduceerd door onder meer Steve England. Hij zei erbij dat het de jingles waren voor een nieuw station dat spoedig vanaf de MV Mi Amigo zou gaan uitzenden. Thuis gekomen bleken het de jingles te zijn voor Radio Mi Amigo, niet wetende dat er ruim 25 jaar later door mij de historie van dit station uitgebreid zou worden beschreven.

Zie daar de introductie van mijn nieuwe boek: Herinneringen aan Radio Mi Amigo deel 1. Het boek is nu te bestellen voor f 30,00 inclusief verzendkosten. Voor nadere info stuur graag een e-mail of briefje aan Hans Knot, Postbus 102, NL-9700 AC Groningen. Het eerste deel zal eind januari / begin februari worden uitgeleverd.

Met vriendelijke groet
Hans Knot