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Israel cabinet defies top court in broadcast regulator clash

Israel’s cabinet unanimously said it will not recognize actions by a broadcast regulator operating under a High Court order, escalating a judiciary clash into warnings of a constitutional crisis.

Published about 3 hours ago
reuters

Israel government says it will defy Supreme Court ruling on media regulator

timesofisrael

In first, government vows to disobey High Court ruling, setting up constitutional crisis

nypost

Netanyahu gov't declares it will ignore Israeli Supreme Court order -- paving way for constitutional crisis

ft

Netanyahu government defies Israel’s top court over TV regulation

newscord

Netanyahu Government Vows To Defy Israel Supreme Court Over Second Authority Quorum

Israel cabinet defies top court in broadcast regulator clash
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A court order becomes a power test

Israel’s government moved Sunday from criticism of the judiciary to open refusal, unanimously approving a declaration that it will not recognize decisions by the Council of the Second Authority for Television and Radio under a June 17 High Court order.canberratimes +1 The ruling had allowed the commercial broadcast regulator to keep operating despite resignations that left it, in the cabinet’s view, short of the legal quorum required for action.ynetnews

The cabinet text, advanced by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, says the court cannot create authority where the Second Authority law does not provide it.timesofisrael +1 Karhi said any decisions made by the council in its current composition would be “worth nothing,” while Levin framed the fight as a separation-of-powers issue between the Knesset and the court.ynetnews

Media control sits at the center

The immediate dispute concerns who can act for the body that regulates Israel’s commercial television and radio broadcasters.trtworld The High Court froze government decisions from March to replace the council, after petitions by the Union of Journalists in Israel, Channel 12 News, the Movement for Quality Government, the Israel Press Council and another legal-values group challenged the appointments process.ynetnews

The court also treated several resignations from the outgoing council as suspect, saying the timing raised concern they were meant to paralyze the regulator and frustrate earlier judicial orders.ynetnews The stakes include possible approval of a sale of Channel 13, a major commercial network and frequent critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as regulatory treatment for Channel 14, a pro-Netanyahu broadcaster.canberratimes +1

Warnings spread beyond the regulator

Opposition leaders and legal officials described the vote as an unprecedented constitutional escalation. President Isaac Herzog said noncompliance with judicial rulings is a “red line,” while opposition leader Yair Lapid called the government “criminal” and said a cabinet that rejects High Court rulings becomes unlawful.canberratimes +1

Ynet reported that Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon warned ministers during the meeting that the proposal would normalize systematic violation of the law whenever the government dislikes legal advice or a ruling.ynetnews Former prime minister Naftali Bennett warned that disobeying court decisions would bring “chaos in the streets,” a warning echoed in regional coverage of the standoff.trtworld +1

The confrontation revives the core battle that erupted after Netanyahu’s coalition returned to power in late 2022 and sought to curb the judiciary, a push that drew mass protests before being shelved after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.canberratimes The practical effect may depend on whether ministries and public officials follow the cabinet or the court if the regulator takes contested action.ynetnews