The hires, made as part of Minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial Communications Bill reform, sought to restructure Israel’s broadcasting oversight system, beginning with the Second Authority.
The government unanimously approved a proposal on Sunday by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin declaring that it will not adhere to a Supreme Court injunction blocking newly-appointed Second Authority Council members from convening after hearing petitions that argued the new appointments were political.
In May, Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein issued a temporary order freezing the activity of the new Second Authority for Television and Radio Council, barring it from convening or making decisions until further notice after the state again asked for more time to respond to a series of petitions challenging the government’s appointments to the media regulator.
The decision immediately halted the work of the council appointed by the government in March, including the appointment of Yifat Ben-Hay Segev as chairwoman, and of attorney Kinneret Barashi and Haim Shine as council members.
In response, the government said it would recognize decisions by the Second Authority Council if the body does not meet the legal threshold set by law.
“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.
Illustration of a KAN microphone. October 28, 2025. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)
The decision stated that the government would not recognize any decision, approval, appointment, or action made by the council while it allegedly fails to meet the statutory threshold.
“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,” Kahri added.
What is the Second Authority?
The Second Authority for Television and Radio is Israel’s public regulator responsible for overseeing commercial television and radio.
Karhi’s controversial Communications Bill sought to restructure Israel’s broadcasting oversight system, beginning with the Second Authority, and bring about sweeping reforms to Israel’s broadcasting sector.
In May, Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein issued a temporary order freezing the activity of the new Second Authority, barring it from convening or making decisions without governmental response to a series of the court’s petitions.
In June, 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.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.