In a commentary published by Channel 13, analyst Baruch Kra reported that the government meeting held on July 5, 2026, marked a dramatic turning point in the relationship between the executive and judicial branches in Israel. Unlike previous instances where individual ministers spoke out against judicial rulings, this development involves an explicit government resolution stating that a specific High Court ruling is unacceptable and will not be honored. According to the report, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not present at the meeting, the move was initiated and supported by him.
The background to this resolution lies in the struggle over the composition of the Second Authority council. After Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi appointed a new council, the Journalists' Association petitioned the High Court, citing a lack of experience among the appointees. The court froze the appointments and ordered the previous council to remain in its position, partly to facilitate the proceedings regarding the acquisition of Channel 13. The report indicates that the government chose to declare non-compliance with this ruling after the court prevented Minister Karhi from creating a situation where council meetings could not be held due to a lack of a quorum.
The commentary suggests that the Prime Minister's intense focus on the media is a recurring theme throughout his tenure, utilizing legal and regulatory mechanisms to influence ownership and content in news outlets. The practical significance of the government's decision, as presented in the report, is the creation of a dangerous precedent where public officials may consider themselves exempt from the obligation to obey judicial decisions based on the political echelon's claim that the court acted illegally. Experts and commentators express concern that this step could impact other areas, such as police work and law enforcement, leading to further erosion of the separation of powers in Israel. Analyst Baruch Kra emphasizes that this is a peak in a continuous campaign against the rule of law, with future chapters potentially involving further attempts at structural changes in government institutions, such as initiatives to alter the status of the Attorney General.