Israeli Coalition Condemns Supreme Court for Blocking Budget Transfers as Political Interference

The Israeli Supreme Court, led by Judge Alex Stein, issued a temporary injunction delaying budget transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday. The court cited alleged procedural flaws in the committee's discussion as grounds for the freeze, though emergency civilian expenditures were exempted. The case will be reviewed by a three-judge panel, with the government required to respond within 48 hours.

This decision sparked sharp criticism from coalition members who accused the court of improper political interference and selective enforcement against the current government. Shas party officials condemned the court as "a branch of the opposition," accusing it of trampling parliamentary authority and undermining democracy. They highlighted a precedent where the previous government made similar budget transfers shortly before elections without judicial intervention, suggesting bias against the current administration and its support base.

Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwitsky personally criticized Supreme Court judges, calling for the establishment of a constitutional court and even suggesting the Supreme Court should be shut down. Knesset member Avichai Boaron described the ruling as "judicial activism on steroids" and labeled it "judicial tyranny," despite Judge Stein's conservative background and appointment by former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.

The injunction followed a petition challenging the budget transfer process, prompting the court to halt implementation pending further examination of the claims. The political backlash underscores ongoing tensions between Israel's judiciary and the ruling coalition over the balance of power and judicial oversight.