JERUSALEM — The Israeli government unanimously approved a proposal on July 5, 2026, declaring it will not adhere to a Supreme Court injunction blocking newly appointed Second Authority Council members from convening. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin submitted the proposal.

The Supreme Court injunction blocks newly appointed Second Authority Council members from convening after the court heard petitions arguing the appointments were political. In May 2026, Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein issued a temporary order freezing the activity of the new Second Authority for Television and Radio Council. This order barred the council from convening or making decisions until further notice.

The government appointed the Second Authority Council in March 2026. Yifat Ben-Hay Segev was appointed as chairwoman. Attorney Kinneret Barashi and Haim Shine were appointed as members. The state had previously asked for more time to respond to a series of petitions challenging the government's appointments to the media regulator.

"High Court justices are not the Knesset, and an abuse of power does not give them the authority to erase an explicit statutory requirement simply because they find it inconvenient. The rule of law is not the rule of judges," Karhi said.

"Today, the government made its position clear: when the High Court tramples the law, the state will not cooperate. A two-thirds majority is a legal requirement, not a recommendation, and a council that does not meet the statutory threshold established by the legislature has no legal standing, and its decisions are null and void," Karhi said.

In June 2026, the government claimed the High Court's ruling allowed the previous government's Second Authority Council to resume activity despite its membership falling below the minimum required by law. "The government has a duty to ensure that the law, and only the law, serves as the source of governmental authority. We will continue to use every lawful means available to restore the rule of law," Levin said.

Why It Matters

The Second Authority for Television and Radio is Israel's public regulator responsible for overseeing commercial television and radio. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's Communications Bill sought to restructure Israel's broadcasting oversight system, beginning with the Second Authority. The Knesset is scheduled to adjourn on July 15, 2026, or shortly thereafter, marking the official start of the Israeli election period. Israelis are scheduled to go to the polls in October 2026.