Supreme Court Halts Expansion of Ultra-Orthodox Radio Broadcasts North

Israel's Supreme Court has issued a conditional order against the Communications Minister's decision to expand the broadcasting range of regional radio stations, including ultra-Orthodox stations Kol Chai and Kol Barama, to northern Israel. The court's decision, delivered by President Yitzhak Amit, Justice Alex Stein, and Justice Gila Kenfy-Steinitz, requires the minister to justify why these expansion decisions, made on May 11, 2026, should not be canceled.

Minister Shlomo Karai invoked special emergency powers under the Communications Law to approve the expansion, citing national security needs for transmitting alerts and instructions to the ultra-Orthodox public using kosher devices. This move granted "in principle approval" to Kol Chai, Kol Barama, and other stations like A-Shams, Radio Nas, and Radio Lev HaMedina-Peruvia.

However, the decision faced opposition from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. She argued that the expansion was not a genuine emergency measure but a voluntary plan initiated by the stations themselves for commercial gain in new areas. Baharav-Miara also contended that the move provided a significant financial benefit to private broadcasters during an election period.

Furthermore, the Attorney General stated that public broadcasting corporation "Kan" already provides adequate means to transmit instructions via its "Kan Moreshet" station. She also asserted that granting such a benefit without a tender process was improper, giving existing regional stations a substantial economic and regulatory advantage without sufficient justification.

The conditional order was issued following a hearing on August 26, 2026. Minister Karai must now present his reasons to the court to explain why the expansion of broadcast areas should not be revoked.