Israel's Supreme Court Issues Conditional Order Against Communications Law

Israel's Supreme Court issued a conditional order on Thursday against a communications law championed by Minister Shlomo Karhi, citing "flaws in the legislative process." A three-judge panel, led by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, has given the government until January 7, 2027, to explain why the law should not be canceled. The court stated that at this stage, it is focusing on the legislative process rather than the substance of the law itself.

This decision follows a submission from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who had previously urged the court to issue an interim order to halt the law's "severe damage to the free communications market." She argued that the law was passed through a "flawed process and includes an extreme accumulation of substantive defects."

In July, the Supreme Court had already issued a temporary order preventing immediate provisions of the law from taking effect until a decision on interim orders was made. Justice Ofer Groskopf noted at the time that the petitions raised "heavy claims" regarding both the legislative procedure and some of the law's provisions, expressing concern that reversing the changes after implementation would be difficult.

The law, intended to fundamentally alter Israel's communications market, underwent a rapid and contentious legislative process. It includes the dissolution of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council and the Second Authority for Television and Radio, replacing them with a smaller oversight body. Additionally, the law removes significant regulatory barriers, benefits the government-aligned Channel 14, eases broadcast licensing, and permits expanded cross-ownership in media companies.