Israeli Ministers Condemn Supreme Court Over Defiance of Government Policy

Israeli ministers sharply criticized the Supreme Court judges following a ruling published on Tuesday, which reaffirmed the judiciary's authority and warned against the government's announced refusal to comply with a court decision regarding the Second Authority for Television and Radio. The judges, Justices Yitzhak Amit, Alex Stein, and Ruth Ronen, emphasized that obeying court rulings is fundamental to a democratic legal system and cautioned that government noncompliance could lead to disorder and undermine public trust. They also noted that public officials must adhere to judicial decisions, and failure to do so could void their personal immunity.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded harshly, labeling the judges as "the last dictators who lost public trust." Levin contrasted the current court's stance with former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak's statement that judges possess only public trust, accusing the court of threatening to suppress those seeking justice by force. He called for judicial self-reflection and stressed that respecting the law and democratic decisions is mandatory for all citizens, including Supreme Court judges.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the judges, expressing support for public servants facing what he described as mafia-like threats from the judiciary. Ben-Gvir asserted that in a democracy, public officials are subordinate to elected representatives and invited dissatisfied judges to seek public office through elections.

Religious Zionism Party leader and Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued the strongest rebuke, accusing the judiciary of extortion through threats and likening their warnings to intimidation tactics. He provocatively questioned if the next step would be violent threats against government officials and called for police investigations, affirming that no one, including judges Yitzhak Amit and Gali Baharav-Miara, is above the law. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi quoted a Talmudic debate to underscore the government's resolve to free the public from the court's influence.

The political backlash highlights escalating tensions between Israel's executive branch and judiciary over the balance of power and adherence to court rulings, with government officials openly challenging the Supreme Court's legitimacy and signaling a potential constitutional crisis.