Israel's High Court of Justice issued an interim order Sunday against Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's broadcast law, delaying the implementation of provisions that were to take effect immediately, according to Michael Shemesh. The order freezes the law until a decision on requests for an interim injunction.
The High Court of Justice issued an interim order Sunday morning (19 July) blocking the implementation of the broadcast law promoted by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, delaying provisions that were to take effect immediately. The order, reported by Michael Shemesh, freezes the law until a decision on requests for an interim injunction. This is the latest in a series of court interventions in the matter today.
The court's action follows a morning of intensive legal developments. At 07:46 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the court had issued a conditional order citing procedural flaws and consolidated petitions from MKs Efrat Rayten and Eitan Ginzburg, the Zulat Institute, and the Movement for Quality Government. Earlier, the court warned that the law would be 'difficult to reverse' once in effect. Justice Yosef Grosskopf issued a temporary order, and the court cited concerns about irreversibility (as reported by ynet). The law had passed the Knesset by a vote of 53-48, with United Torah Judaism absent.
The court's intervention is part of an ongoing legal battle over the legislation. As The Zioneer reported on July 10, a demand was issued to halt the legislative race ahead of the High Court decision. On July 6, the Knesset legal advisor invalidated a key amendment on procedural grounds. Earlier, in June, the court halted Karhi's media plan after a 'Seventh Eye' exposé (The Zioneer, June 18). The legislation has faced broad opposition, with critics arguing it undermines media independence.
The full hearing on the petitions is expected in the coming weeks. The interim order is temporary, pending the court's decision on an interim injunction. The state has been ordered to show cause why the provisions should not be suspended.
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