Full Breakdown
Netanyahu Government Vows to Defy Supreme Court Ruling on Broadcast Regulator
7/6/2026, 11:10:57 AM
Cabinet Vote to Defy Supreme Court Order
On 5 July 2026 Israel’s cabinet voted unanimously to reject the Supreme Court’s 17 June interim order on the Second Authority for Television and Radio. The resolution, drafted by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, says the court’s decision “contradicts the clear language of the law” and pledges to use “all legal tools at its disposal” to overturn it.
Legal Background
Israeli law requires the Second Authority’s council to hold a two-thirds quorum to act. Early-2026 resignations dropped the council below that level, prompting the Supreme Court’s 17 June order to keep it operating. The clash follows a judicial-reform drive launched after the 2022 elections, paused after the Oct 7 2023 Hamas attacks and revived in 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu’s coalition, led by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, drafted the resolution. President Isaac Herzog warned that refusing to follow a Supreme Court ruling threatens unity, calling noncompliance a red line that must not be crossed. Levin said Knesset laws must be respected; Karhi added that the court’s justices are not the Knesset. Yossi Fuchs described the move as sharp criticism rather than defiance.
Political and Media Implications
Defying the court intensifies a constitutional dispute that raises concerns about Israel’s separation of powers and affects media deals, including the proposed sale of Channel 13 to high-tech investors and the “small-channel” status of Channel 14. The controversy unfolds ahead of elections slated for September-October 2026.
Opposition and Criticism
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the move “a serious constitutional crisis in Israel’s history,” saying it “becomes an illegal government.” Naftali Bennett warned that “failure to obey a court ruling leads to anarchy in the streets and dismantling of our country.” Yair Golan called it “the operational order ahead of election day.” The Movement for Quality Government labeled the government “criminal” and said it has lost legitimacy.
Conflicting Accounts
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs says the resolution is a “sharp criticism,” not a directive to disobey, yet the cabinet’s language explicitly rejects the court’s order, prompting analysts to call it defiance. Netanyahu has not commented. Legal scholars dispute whether the two-thirds quorum applies to all council actions or only specific appointments, leaving the regulator’s status unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You have no power to trample the law. A ruling that contradicts the law will not be recognized, and decisions made under it are void,” — Shlomo Karhi, Communications Minister
- “When a judgment stands in direct contradiction to the wording of the law, it is not judicial review but a violation of the principle of separation of powers.” — Yariv Levin, Justice Minister
- “Noncompliance with a court ruling is a red line that must not be crossed under any circumstances.” — Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
- “The decision to ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling is the operational order ahead of election day,” — Yair Golan, Opposition leader
