Israeli Government Rejects Supreme Court Ruling, Sparking Constitutional Crisis

On Sunday, the Israeli government unanimously decided not to comply with a Supreme Court ruling concerning the Second Authority for Television and Radio. The official government statement declared that the court's decision was contrary to explicit law and would not be recognized, asserting the government would use all legal means to overturn it in the future.

Government Secretary Yossi Fox clarified that the government’s declaration did not call for disobedience to the court but criticized the ruling as conflicting with clear statutory language. This statement came amid sharp criticism from President Isaac Herzog, who condemned any declarations of non-compliance with Supreme Court rulings as a "red line" that must not be crossed. Herzog emphasized that such actions undermine national unity and the rule of law.

However, Minister Shlomo Karhi, who presented the government’s decision, contradicted Fox by stating that the government had told the Supreme Court "no," affirming that the government would obey the law rather than illegal court decisions. Karhi accused Herzog of silence when the court previously ruled against explicit legal provisions and insisted the people are sovereign.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded harshly, calling the government’s stance a historic constitutional crisis and a collapse of democracy. He warned that the government’s refusal to respect court orders effectively nullifies the rule of law and could lead to election postponements under pretexts that courts could no longer challenge.

In parallel, the government advanced legislation to split the Attorney General’s role into two separate positions, reducing the Attorney General’s authority over legal advice and government representation in court. This move would allow the government to override the Attorney General’s legal opinions and represent itself in the Supreme Court, further intensifying the ongoing confrontation between the government and the judiciary.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the decision, despite previously emphasizing the importance of obeying court rulings. The legal and political turmoil marks a significant escalation in Israel’s institutional crisis ahead of upcoming elections.