Supreme Court Orders Minister to Appoint Public Broadcasting Council Members

Israel's Supreme Court unanimously ordered Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi on Thursday to appoint four candidates to the Public Broadcasting Corporation's council, adopting the recommendations of an appointment committee. The ruling, delivered by President Yitzhak Amit and Justices Ofer Grosskopf and Gila Kenan-Steinholtz, addressed four petitions, the main one filed by the "Success - For the Advancement of a Fair Society" organization.

The petitions were filed after the terms of several council members expired, leaving the council without the necessary quorum to convene and make decisions, as stipulated by the Public Broadcasting Corporation Law. A partial ruling on May 12, 2026, had already called for the advancement of these four candidates' appointments. However, on June 8, 2026, Minister Karhi decided to reject the committee's recommendations.

The judges found that the minister had not provided sufficient reasons to deviate from the committee's suggestions. They stated that the minister's discretion in such matters is limited due to the role assigned to the appointment committee, the legal appointment mechanism, and the importance of the corporation's independence. The court also rejected the minister's claims of procedural flaws, confirming the candidates met all eligibility requirements and possessed the necessary qualifications and experience.

Furthermore, the court dismissed the argument that appointments should be delayed until all council members are identified, emphasizing that the law sets specific qualifications for each member and that delaying appointments paralyzes the entire council. The minister was ordered to sign the appointment letters within a week, after which the appointments will take effect by court order.

Additionally, the court granted a temporary extension for the corporation's CEO, whose term was set to end in November 2026. Since a council lacking a quorum cannot appoint a CEO, and to prevent severe damage to the corporation, the CEO's term was extended for up to 60 days from the date the council can convene and select a new CEO, while the appointment committee continues its work to complete the council.