JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has threatened to contest a Supreme Court order concerning a media regulatory body, reigniting the intense judicial conflict that destabilized Israel prior to the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This escalation occurs as the country approaches national elections anticipated by late October.
According to a government statement released on Sunday, officials characterized a June 17 Supreme Court ruling regarding the composition of the Second Authority for Television and Radio as a blatant instance of judicial overreach. Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi stated that they do not intend to respect the ruling.
Minister Levin was a primary architect of the 2023 legislative push to limit Supreme Court authority—a movement that triggered widespread domestic protests before being paused following the October 7 attacks. Recently, however, Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition has begun reviving elements of that controversial judicial overhaul.
While the declaration may have minimal immediate impact on the media regulator itself, critics argue the implications are far-reaching. They contend that such defiance undermines the rule of law and the state’s democratic framework, potentially triggering a constitutional crisis by creating a direct confrontation between the executive and judicial branches.
“While it may appear that nothing has changed, something profoundly dramatic has occurred,” noted Dina Zilber, Israel’s former deputy attorney general. Zilber remarked that this represents a significant milestone, as the government has utilized formal executive powers to disregard a court mandate, delivering what she described as “a harsh blow to the rule of law and the separation of powers.”
The political backdrop is significant: Israel is scheduled for elections by late October, though a specific date has not been finalized. Current polling suggests that Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition may face defeat at the polls. As Likud, Netanyahu’s party, prepares for upcoming primaries, ministers competing for leadership positions may attempt to appeal to their base by championing measures against the judiciary and the media—institutions the coalition frequently characterizes as left-wing elitist entities.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has not yet issued a public comment regarding the government’s declaration. However, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs attempted to moderate the rhetoric of Ministers Levin and Karhi. Fuchs clarified that the government statement was not a direct call to disobey the court, but rather a sharp critique and an assertion that the administration will utilize all available legal avenues to overturn the ruling.
Issues involving the media and the judiciary remain particularly sensitive for Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption trials that he denies. Notably, two of the three criminal cases against him involve allegations of granting regulatory favors to media executives. Netanyahu has consistently framed his legal challenges as a politically motivated “witch-hunt” designed to remove a democratically elected leader.
Opponents argue that the government is attempting to undermine democratic institutions to divert public attention from the security failures of October 7 and the ongoing human and political costs of the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The government’s declaration has drawn condemnation from President Isaac Herzog, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
