Israeli Cabinet Defies High Court, Undermining Rule of Law to Shield Corporate Interests
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Israel's right-wing government has openly refused to comply with a Supreme Court order that would allow the commercial broadcasting regulator to operate, a move condemned by opposition leaders as a dangerous step toward authoritarianism and a constitutional crisis.
On Sunday, Israel's cabinet escalated its assault on judicial independence by passing a resolution that blatantly disregards any decisions made by the Council of the Second Authority when it lacks the two-thirds quorum mandated by law. This direct defiance of a June interim order from the High Court of Justice—meant to keep the council functioning despite vacancies—signals the government’s willingness to undermine the judiciary for political gain.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, both hardline figures, justified their refusal by claiming the court’s ruling contradicts the 1990 Second Authority law. Karhi went so far as to declare, “When the High Court tramples the law, the state will not comply with it,” in a joint statement that reveals the government’s contempt for checks and balances.
At the heart of this standoff is a proposed purchase of Channel 13 by a group of wealthy high-tech entrepreneurs—a deal that requires council approval. The government’s obstruction appears aimed at protecting vested interests and silencing independent media. Opposition leaders have sharply criticized the cabinet’s actions, warning that ignoring the court’s authority could plunge Israel into a constitutional crisis. “A government that does not accept the rulings of the High Court of Justice immediately becomes an unlawful government,” said Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, highlighting the grave threat to democracy.
Further fueling concerns are recent controversial appointments to the council, such as Yifat Ben Hai Segev, whose close ties to Channel 13 and involvement in former Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trial raise serious conflict-of-interest questions. After a wave of resignations reduced the council to just nine members, the High Court initially froze its activities, but later ruled that the resignations should not affect the quorum calculation, allowing the council to resume its work.
Justice Minister Levin’s assertion that the legislature alone enacts law and the courts merely apply it is a thinly veiled attack on judicial oversight, undermining the separation of powers. Civil-society groups like the Movement for Quality Government have vowed to continue their legal fight, insisting that no government is above the law—even as the current regime seeks to place itself beyond accountability.
