Israel’s cabinet on Sunday approved a unanimous decision declaring it would not comply with a Supreme Court interim order that froze the activities of a newly appointed media regulatory council. Opposition leader Yair Lapid described the move as “the most severe constitutional crisis in the history of Israel,” while President Isaac Herzog warned that a “red line” had been crossed. The Movement for Quality Government, a legal watchdog, announced it would petition the court under the Contempt of Court Ordinance, seeking fines or arrest warrants against ministers involved.

The dispute centres on the Second Authority for Television and Radio, which oversees commercial broadcasters. In June, Justice Alex Stein issued an interim injunction suspending the council’s work after petitions challenged several appointments, citing unresolved conflicts of interest and political bias. The state had failed to submit its response by the court’s deadline. Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who initiated the cabinet declaration, argued that the court had overstepped its authority and that the ruling contradicted explicit legislation. Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs later sought to temper the language, stating the government would use “all legal means” to overturn the decision and that the statement contained no call to disobey court orders. However, the official text also declared that the government would ignore administrative actions resulting from the ruling.

Viewed from Jerusalem, the confrontation revives the deep rift over judicial powers that triggered mass protests in 2023 before being shelved after the Hamas attack of 7 October. Analysts in Israel note that the timing coincides with a general election expected by late October, with opinion polls indicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is set to lose. Likud primaries are anticipated, and ministers may seek to rally their base by targeting the judiciary and media, institutions the coalition has long cast as left-leaning and elitist. Netanyahu himself is on trial for corruption in cases that involve alleged regulatory favours to media moguls; he has portrayed the proceedings as a political witch-hunt.

The court has not yet issued a final ruling on the legality of the appointments; the interim order was designed to preserve the status quo while petitions are reviewed. Legal figures in Israel, including former deputy attorney general Dina Zilber, said the cabinet’s declaration marked the first time the executive branch had formally used its powers to flout a court order, delivering what she called “a harsh blow to the rule of law and to the separation of powers.” The Movement for Quality Government is expected to file its contempt motion in the coming days, while the broader political standoff is likely to intensify as the election campaign unfolds.