Israeli Government Refuses to Recognize Communications Authority Decisions Amid Supreme Court Dispute

The Israeli government sparked political turmoil on Sunday by unanimously deciding not to recognize any decisions made by the Second Authority Council for Television and Radio while it operates under a Supreme Court interim order. This move came despite the court's injunction requiring the outgoing council to remain in office until petitions challenging the council's new appointments are resolved. The government declared that any decisions, approvals, or appointments made by the council under the interim order would be invalid and unrecognized, particularly those affecting the communications market.

The dispute centers on the composition of the Second Authority Council, which oversees commercial TV and radio broadcasts in Israel. In March, the government approved a new council lineup, but several petitions were filed against these appointments by groups including the Journalists' Organization, the News Company, the Movement for Quality Government, and the Press Council, citing procedural flaws. The Attorney General also noted significant defects in the appointment process and recommended reconsideration. Following resignations by some outgoing council members, the Supreme Court suspected these resignations aimed to influence legal proceedings and issued an interim order keeping the outgoing council in place until a final ruling.

The government argues that with the resignations, the council no longer has a legal quorum and thus cannot validly make decisions. Opposition parties sharply criticized the government’s stance. Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Camp, accused the government of normalizing defiance of court rulings and warned it might refuse to accept election results if it loses. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the government "illegal" for rejecting Supreme Court decisions and affirmed the council members’ terms remain valid. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot also condemned the government, saying it undermines Israeli democracy and deepens societal divisions.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who spearheaded the government’s position, argued the Supreme Court overstepped its authority. Karhi emphasized that the law requires a minimum number of council members for valid decisions, which the current council lacks. Levin added that court rulings contradicting clear statutory language are not legitimate judicial review but violate the principle of separation of powers.

The political and legal conflict over the Second Authority Council’s legitimacy is ongoing, with the Supreme Court yet to issue a final verdict on the petitions challenging the council’s composition and authority.