Following MK Karei's announcement that he will not follow High Court proceedings, and assuming the legal advisors to the government and Knesset oppose the law, commentator Micha'el Shemesh argues the law is effectively dead, marking a new stage in the judicial-executive confrontation.
In a post on his the source, commentator Micha'el Shemesh assessed the implications of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's announcement that he will not cooperate with High Court proceedings regarding the communications law. Shemesh argued that since the legal advisors to the government and the Knesset oppose the law, Karhi's refusal effectively kills it, marking a new stage in the deepening judicial-executive confrontation. The analysis comes roughly two hours after the initial exchanges between the court and the minister.
At 07:46 Jerusalem on Sunday, the High Court of Justice issued an interim order freezing parts of the communications law, citing procedural defects and concerns over irreversibility—a move reported by multiple outlets including N12, ynet, and i24NEWS. Within the same hour, Karhi responded by calling to defy the order, asserting the court lacks authority over legislation. The court's actions escalated from an initial conditional order to a full freeze, with Justice Yosef Grosskopf issuing the temporary order. Shemesh's commentary is the first substantive analysis of the political fallout.
As The Zioneer reported on July 15, coalition politicians had previously stated that a High Court order cancelling a law is 'meaningless' and must not be obeyed, a stance that now appears to be put into practice by Karhi. The thread reflects a sustained confrontation between the coalition and the judiciary.
It remains unclear whether the legal advisors' opposition will indeed prevent the law from advancing, or whether Karhi will follow through on his defiance. Shemesh's assessment is one interpretation; the legal and political process continues.
14 developments
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- DevelopingColumnist: after High Court invented authority to strike Basic Laws, Torah Study law is a dead letter
- DevelopingKahana: High Court has become Israel's upper house, freezing Knesset legislation
- StrongCoalition politicians: High Court order cancelling a law is 'meaningless' and must not be obeyed
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