Israeli Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Key Provisions of Controversial Communications Law

The Israeli Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction on Sunday halting the immediate implementation of parts of the new communications law passed in the Knesset. The law, championed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and approved shortly before the Knesset's dissolution, aims to deregulate the media sector by allowing new news channels to operate with minimal oversight and removing the separation between channel owners and news companies. However, the court expressed concern that once the law takes effect, it would be difficult to reverse its impact. Justice Ofer Groskopf noted these risks but did not freeze the entire law, only those sections with immediate effect.

The legislation was passed by a narrow margin of 53 to 48 votes, following intense political debate and opposition from various factions including the Knesset’s legal advisor, who highlighted significant legislative flaws. Among the contentious elements was a government app designed to provide free access to all news channels, which initially faced opposition from ultra-Orthodox parties over concerns about Sabbath operation and inappropriate content; this provision was subsequently removed.

Opponents, including MKs Eitan Ginzburg and Efrat Rayten, petitioned the Supreme Court against the law. Minister Karhi hailed the law’s passage as a victory over what he termed the "deep state," accusing media tycoons, legal advisors, and officials of attempting to block the reform. The court’s injunction follows a previous temporary freeze on another controversial law exempting draft dodgers from arrest, signaling ongoing judicial scrutiny of recent legislative measures passed amid political turmoil.