Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will adhere to any decision made by the High Court of Justice, according to Miki Zohar, the country’s Culture and Sports Minister. This assertion dismisses allegations that the government aims to provoke a constitutional crisis. Zohar’s comments followed the cabinet’s approval of a resolution that defied a High Court ruling, which allowed the Council of the Second Authority to continue its operations without a required quorum.
The government contends that the High Court’s ruling is at odds with existing legal frameworks and insists that all state bodies, including the judiciary, must function within established legal limits. Zohar emphasized that the resolution’s intent was to avert a constitutional crisis rather than instigate one.
Opposition leaders and legal experts have strongly criticized the cabinet’s move. President Isaac Herzog cautioned that non-compliance with High Court decisions would breach a critical “red line.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed these concerns, warning that disregarding judicial rulings could lead to constitutional disarray and threaten the foundations of democratic governance.
The controversy revolves around the Council of the Second Authority’s role in evaluating a proposed acquisition of Channel 13. Critics argue that the government is attempting to exert political influence over media regulation through its control of the broadcasting council.