Israel Cabinet Rejects Supreme Court Ruling, Sparking Constitutional Crisis Fears

Israel's cabinet has voted to reject a Supreme Court ruling involving the country's broadcast regulator, triggering fresh concerns over a potential constitutional crisis and deepening tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the judiciary.

The unanimous decision marks the first time Netanyahu's administration has openly refused to accept a Supreme Court ruling. The dispute revives a long-running battle over judicial authority that first erupted after the government's controversial judicial overhaul plans were introduced in 2023. Those reforms sparked months of nationwide protests and international criticism before being largely paused following the October 7 Hamas attacks, although parts of the agenda have since resurfaced.

At the center of the latest dispute is the Second Authority for Television and Radio, Israel's broadcast regulator. Under Israeli law, the regulator must have a minimum number of council members to legally make decisions. The government argues the council currently lacks enough members and therefore cannot approve appointments or carry out regulatory actions.

However, on June 17, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the council should continue operating despite the shortage of members.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a leading architect of the judicial reform effort, proposed that the government refuse to recognize any decisions made by the regulator until the legal membership requirement is restored. The cabinet approved the proposal unanimously.

In its official statement, the cabinet argued that the Supreme Court had exceeded its authority by contradicting existing law. The government said it would use every available legal avenue to overturn the ruling and declared that any decisions issued under the court's directive would be considered invalid.

Karhi criticized the judiciary, saying judges cannot replace the role of parliament, while Levin insisted that courts must respect legislation passed by lawmakers.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned against defying judicial decisions, saying refusal to comply with Supreme Court rulings crosses a dangerous line and threatens national unity.

"I have already made it clear, and I will repeat it again and again—disobedience to a court ruling is a red line that must not be crossed under any circumstances," Herzog said.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs sought to ease concerns, arguing that the government was not calling for disobedience but was instead expressing strong opposition to what it considers an unlawful judicial interpretation. He said the cabinet intends to challenge the ruling through legal procedures rather than ignore the judicial system altogether.

Opposition leaders strongly condemned the cabinet's move.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid described the decision as the most severe constitutional crisis in Israel's history, accusing the government of undermining democratic institutions and calling the administration "criminal."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that ignoring court rulings could lead to lawlessness and national instability, while opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of weakening Israeli democracy and further dividing the country ahead of expected elections.

The dispute also carries significant implications for Israel's media landscape. The regulator's authority may determine whether the proposed sale of Channel 13, a major television network frequently critical of Netanyahu, to a consortium of technology entrepreneurs can proceed. It could also affect whether the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 retains its "small channel" classification, a status that provides valuable regulatory exemptions and benefits.

Although Israel has not officially scheduled new elections, a national vote is widely expected to take place in September or October, making the latest confrontation between the government and the judiciary a major political issue heading into the campaign.