The High Court of Justice escalated its confrontation with the executive Tuesday, warning it could strip legal immunity from public employees who follow ministerial directives that defy a court ruling. MK Moshe Saada responded that the court lacks authority for such a step, arguing the government and Knesset are the sovereign branches.
The High Court of Justice issued a further warning Tuesday morning in the ongoing legal clash between the judiciary and Israel's executive and legislative branches. The court stated that public officials who obey ministerial instructions that contradict a court ruling could lose their parliamentary immunity — a significant escalation from previous warnings of personal legal responsibility directed at government ministers.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday (09:06), the court first responded to the government's position by stating that an elected official who refuses to comply with a ruling could have his immunity removed. The latest message sharpens that threat and extends it explicitly to public employees.
MK Moshe Saada (Likud) responded, saying the court "knows it has no authority" for such a measure, and that "ultimately, the government is the executive branch and the Knesset is the sovereign." The exchange follows a series of warnings from both sides: earlier Tuesday justices cautioned Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (09:04), and over the weekend Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former Prime Minister Ehud Barak each made statements rejecting or defending defiance of court rulings.
The specific trigger for the confrontation is a dispute over the State Comptroller's powers, with the coalition arguing the Knesset — not the court — determines the comptroller's mandate. The court's latest threat raises the stakes by targeting individual accountability of public servants.
2 developments
- DevelopingSupreme Court justices warn Minister Karhi: public employees defying court orders will not have immunity
- StrongHigh Court Justices Warn: Defying Rulings May Lead to Personal Responsibility
- DevelopingMinister Karhi says High Court may nullify general election results if it disapproves
- DevelopingHigh Court hearing: Government attorney says MK may vote openly
Source and signal
- Internal intake