National Security Minister Ben Gvir Defies Attorney General Over Supreme Court Ruling on Second Authority

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded sharply to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's condemnation of the government's decision not to comply with a Supreme Court ruling concerning the Second Authority for Television and Radio. Ben Gvir accused Baharav-Miara, who previously authorized Shin Bet surveillance against him, of hypocrisy and asserted that the government will fully complete its judicial reform. He warned that she will be held accountable for alleged selective enforcement and undermining the rule of law.

Earlier, Baharav-Miara criticized the government's move as a serious attempt to thwart judicial decisions and intimidate those seeking to implement them, stating it undermines fundamental principles of the rule of law. Prior to her statement, Government Secretary Yossi Fox clarified that the government's decision does not call for disobedience to the Supreme Court ruling but expresses strong criticism of a ruling that contradicts explicit statutory language. Fox emphasized that the government intends to use all legal means to overturn the decision in the future and questioned how lawful measures could be equated with disobedience to judicial rulings.

This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between the Israeli government and the judiciary amid the broader context of controversial judicial reforms. The government insists on pursuing reforms despite legal challenges and criticism from the Attorney General's office, signaling continued conflict over the balance of power in Israel's legal and political system.