Israel- The , the High Court of Justice unanimously ruled on Wednesday, ending three years of legal wrangling over the legality of its broadcasts.

The special 11-justice panel rejected two petitions against the continued broadcast of the soft porn channel on cable and satellite television in Israel.

Justice Dalia Dorner, who read out the ruling in court on her last day before retirement, said that the values of freedom of expression had served as the basis to the court’s decision, adding that the pornographic content of the channel was “relatively light.”

She said that this has also been the conclusion of the 175 other countries that permit the broadcast of the channel worldwide.

Dorner noted that while she supposes that the channel’s programming may be offensive to some sectors of the public “no one is forcing them to watch.”

Wednesday’s court’s ruling brings an end to years of legal wrangling over the channel, which began broadcasting in Israel on satellite television in May 2001.

Last year, an amalgamation of women’s organizations and a group of Knesset members had petitioned the high court, demanding that the channel be taken off the air.

Religious MK’s and women’s group on Wednesday voiced disappointment with the court’s ruling, with Shaul Yahalom (NRP) saying the justice’s erred in allowing the broadcast of a channel which “pollutes Israeli culture,” and MK Gila Gamliel (Likud) opining that the channel was “a form of racism against women.”

The cable and satellite stations offer the option of a monthly NIS 30 subscription to the channel or payment for an evening’s viewing.

About 25,000 homes subscribe to the channel.