Key facts
- Israel's cabinet voted to defy a Supreme Court ruling on the Second Authority for Television and Radio.
- The government claims the regulator lacks the legal quorum to make decisions.
- This marks the first time Netanyahu's government has openly flouted a Supreme Court order.
- Critics warn of a constitutional crisis and damage to Israeli democracy.
- Elections are expected by late October.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has voted to defy a Supreme Court order concerning the composition and authority of Israel's Second Authority for Television and Radio, reigniting a significant judicial row. The government argues the regulator lacks the legal quorum to make decisions, a stance that Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi have declared will not be respected. This action marks the first time Netanyahu's government has openly flouted a Supreme Court ruling, prompting strong condemnation from opposition leaders, legal experts, and former officials who warn of a constitutional crisis and damage to Israel's democratic foundations.
Critics, including former deputy attorney general Dina Zilber, view the move as a direct blow to the rule of law and separation of powers. The declaration, while having little immediate practical impact on the regulator, carries broader symbolic weight. The political context includes upcoming elections expected by late October, with speculation that ministers may be seeking to appeal to their voter base by challenging the judiciary and media, institutions often viewed by Netanyahu's coalition as elitist. Netanyahu himself has not publicly commented on the declaration, though Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs downplayed the rhetoric, emphasizing the government's intent to use legal means to overturn the court order. Netanyahu's own corruption trial, which he denies, involves allegations of regulatory favors to media moguls, adding a personal dimension to the ongoing judicial disputes.
Opposition figures like Yair Lapid have labeled the situation the "most serious constitutional crisis in Israel's history." President Isaac Herzog and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara have also voiced opposition. Critics suggest the government is using this dispute to distract from the security failures of the October 7 attack and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.