Israeli Attorney General Condemns Government Defiance of Supreme Court Ruling Amid Likud Threats

On July 5, 2026, Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sharply criticized the government's decision to defy a Supreme Court ruling regarding the Second Authority Council. In an official statement from the State Attorney's Office, she described the government's move as "another serious attempt to intimidate those who seek to uphold judicial decisions," warning that it undermines fundamental principles of the rule of law in a democratic state.

The Attorney General's statement followed a wave of political reactions, including strong condemnations from opposition parties and President Isaac Herzog. Herzog posted on social media that declarations of non-compliance with Supreme Court rulings "strike at the core of national unity" and reiterated that disobedience to court decisions is a "red line that must never be crossed." Notably, Herzog had a lengthy discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just minutes before his public rebuke.

Within the coalition, responses were mixed. Government Secretary Yossi Fox clarified that the government's statement did not call for disobedience but criticized the court ruling as contradicting explicit law, asserting the government would use all legal means to overturn the decision. Meanwhile, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi stated, "We obey the law, not illegal decisions of the Supreme Court," signaling a confrontational stance.

The government had announced it would not recognize any decisions, appointments, or actions by the Second Authority Council, arguing the court ruling conflicted with statutory law. Opposition leaders, including Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Gadi Eizenkot, condemned the move as an assault on Israeli democracy and warned it risks anarchy and damages the rule of law. Eizenkot emphasized the need for a government that unites rather than divides the nation.

The Attorney General's denunciation and the coalition's defiant rhetoric highlight escalating tensions between Israel's judiciary and government, raising concerns about the future of judicial authority and democratic governance in the country.