Israeli Government Rejects Supreme Court Ruling on Communications Authority Membership

On July 5, 2026, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs clarified that the government's recent statement does not call for disobedience to a Supreme Court ruling but sharply criticizes the court's decision as contradicting explicit legal language. The government unanimously approved a proposal by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin stating it will not recognize any decisions, appointments, or actions by the Second Authority Council unless it meets the legal quorum requirements.

This move follows the Supreme Court ruling on June 17, which ordered the continuation of the Second Authority Council's operations despite the government’s claim that the council currently has fewer members than the statutory minimum. The government emphasized that the rule of law applies to all branches, including the judiciary, and that a ruling that directly contradicts the law cannot grant non-existent authority.

The Cabinet decision explicitly states that the government will not acknowledge any actions taken by a council that does not meet the legal threshold, and it will reject any reliance claims from communication market entities based on such decisions. Minister Karhi criticized the Supreme Court ruling, asserting that the court is not the Knesset and that judicial overreach cannot nullify clear legal requirements, stating, "The rule of law is not the rule of judges."