Israeli Minister Defies Supreme Court Order on Public Broadcasting Council Appointments

Israel's Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karai, has publicly stated he will not comply with a Supreme Court order to appoint members to the Public Broadcasting Corporation's council. The court had directed Karai to sign the appointment letters for four candidates recommended by a search committee, extending their terms. Karai argued that the court's order contradicts the law, asserting that the authority to extend the council members' tenure rests solely with the minister.

"The court in Israel has no authority to issue orders contrary to the law," Karai declared, emphasizing that the law grants him exclusive discretion in this matter. He further contended that any action taken based on an unlawful order would be retroactively canceled. Karai drew a parallel to a previous government decision regarding the Second Authority for Television and Radio council, which he described as an "illegal order."

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by President Yitzhak Amit and Justices Ofer Groskopf and Gila Stein, had ordered Karai to appoint the council members. The ruling came after petitions were filed because the terms of several council members had expired, leaving the council without the necessary quorum to convene and make decisions. The court found that Karai had not provided sufficient justification for deviating from the search committee's recommendations.

The justices stated that the minister's discretion in such appointments is limited due to the role of the search committee and the importance of the corporation's independence. They rejected Karai's claims of procedural flaws, confirming the candidates met the eligibility criteria and possessed the required qualifications and experience. The court also dismissed the argument that appointments should be delayed until all council members are identified, citing the law's specific qualifications for each member and the risk of paralyzing the council.

Karai was given one week to sign the appointment letters, after which the appointments would take effect by court order. The court also temporarily extended the term of the corporation's CEO, whose position was set to end in November 2026, to ensure continuity until a new CEO could be appointed by a functioning council.