Israel's Supreme Court Overturns Controversial Appointments to Media Regulator

Israel's High Court of Justice unanimously ruled Tuesday to cancel the government's decisions appointing Dr. Yifat Ben-Haim Segav as chairwoman of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, along with attorneys Kineret Brashi and Dr. Haim Shine as council members. The Second Authority is the regulatory body overseeing commercial television and radio broadcasts in Israel, including major channels and radio stations.

The controversy began in March 2026 when the government approved these appointments. Petitioners to the High Court argued that the appointments were flawed due to severe conflicts of interest. Specifically, Ben-Haim Segav had recently served as a director at Channel 13, a body the Authority is meant to regulate. Additionally, her past testimony in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial (Case 4000), which was altered in his favor, raised concerns about political ties and potential harm to the regulatory body's independence.

In May 2026, the High Court issued an interim order freezing the new council's activities. By July, Ben-Haim Segav resigned, realizing the order would not be overturned. Today's ruling confirmed the court's finding of substantial procedural flaws in the appointment process.

The decision leaves the Second Authority without a legally constituted council, raising questions about its continued proper functioning until a new council meeting all legal standards can be appointed.