Israeli Government Declares Supreme Court Rulings Nonbinding, Escalating Legal Crisis

On July 5, 2026, the Israeli government took an unprecedented step by officially declaring that it does not accept Supreme Court rulings and will not abide by them. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not present at the cabinet meeting, the decision was clearly made with his approval and likely at his initiative. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict over the rule of law in Israel, which has been deteriorating since January 2023 when Justice Minister Yariv Levin began pushing judicial overhaul measures.

The crisis centers on the authority of the judiciary versus the government, raising concerns about whether public officials, including soldiers and police, will obey the law or government directives. Previous flashpoints, such as the appointment of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, whom the Justice Minister refuses to recognize, have threatened systemic collapse but were ultimately contained. However, the new government declaration breaks new ground by rejecting court authority outright.

The immediate trigger for this constitutional crisis was a dispute over Israeli media regulation. The Second Authority for Television and Radio, which oversees broadcast channels, had its council replaced by a new one appointed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. The new council members lacked media expertise and were accused of attacking journalists on social media. The Journalists Association petitioned the Supreme Court against these appointments, leading the court to freeze the new council’s installation and order the previous council to continue operating.

Minister Karhi then attempted to undermine the old council by encouraging resignations to prevent quorum, aiming to block approval of a major media acquisition: the purchase of Channel 13 by a tech group led by Asaf Rappaport. The Supreme Court responded by allowing the old council to meet without quorum. This judicial intervention prompted the government’s declaration that court rulings are not legally binding.

Netanyahu’s long-standing obsession with controlling the media is central to this crisis. His criminal indictments include allegations of trying to install favorable media owners and shutting down Channel 10. The government’s refusal to respect court decisions signals a dangerous precedent where losing parties in civil disputes may reject rulings as "illegal," backed by government support. This threatens the separation of powers and the rule of law in Israel.

Looking ahead, the legal crisis is expected to deepen, with legislation proposed by Knesset member Simcha Rothman aimed at dismantling the office of the Attorney General, further undermining judicial independence. The July 5 government declaration represents the peak of a long campaign to erode the rule of law, with more turmoil anticipated.