Sources inform ''Globes'' that Shlomo Ben-Tzvi is in advanced negotiations for the sale of his free newspaper “Israeli”. This is the main reason for his determination to continue publishing the newspaper, in order to keep it as a going concern.
An international group will reportedly soon decide whether to buy “Israeli”. The sale is reportedly for the ownership. The sources added that if no deal is closed, or if there are major delays in implementation, there is a strong probability that “Israeli” will cease publication.
Ben-Tzvi was not available for comment by web-posting.
“Israeli’s” circulation has fallen to 20,000 a day since its return from a two-week holiday vacation. The main distribution points continue to be at Israel Railways stations and Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd. central bus stations.
In a separate development, at the request of Sweden’s Metro International SA (SAX:MTRO), the Tel Aviv District Court issued a temporary injunction against free newspaper “Metro Israel”, owned by Eli Azour and David Weissman banning the newspaper from using the name “Metro”.
Metro International is the world’s largest international newspaper. In its petition to the court, the company said that it was planning to launch “Metro” in Israel and that it was seeking a distributor for the newspaper.
In view of these developments, it cannot be ruled out that Metro International is the party interested in acquiring “Israeli”, and turning it into the Israeli edition of “Metro”.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 11, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007