BySARAH BEN-NUN

JULY 19, 2026 09:25

Updated: JULY 19, 2026 10:08

On Sunday the High Court of Justice issued a temporary freeze on those elements of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi broadcasting reform that were slated to activate at once, yet it stopped short of halting the entire statute.

Justice Ofer Grosskopf directed the Knesset and government to file responses by July 26 concerning the requests to suspend the measure or portions thereof while the petitions undergo review.

Three petitions had already been lodged during the legislative phase; Grosskopf consolidated them with four additional petitions submitted after passage into a single comprehensive proceeding.

Grosskopf observed that the filings raised substantial arguments both about the manner of enactment and about particular arrangements introduced or eliminated.

Given the breadth of the alterations and their anticipated impact on the media sector, he noted concern that reversing course after implementation would prove difficult.

Grosskopf Rejects Full Halt While Permitting Limited Freeze

Because most provisions are not scheduled for immediate effect, Grosskopf declined a blanket provisional order and instead suspended only those clauses set to commence upon publication, pending final adjudication.

Karhi disputed the court authority to issue such an order, maintaining that the statute remained valid notwithstanding the decision.

The High Court lacks power to freeze or annul legislation, he stated, adding that an order issued without jurisdiction carries no legal force.

Karhi further indicated he would not take part in proceedings while the interim order stands, charging the court with overriding Knesset legislation without a hearing.

The bulk of the reform is slated to enter into force two years after publication.

Provisions scheduled for immediate effect included creation of a five-member search committee to propose candidates for public seats on the new broadcasting regulator together with several amendments to existing broadcasting and administrative statutes.

The order therefore blocks the process of forming the new regulator from starting.

Under the statute the search committee is to be led by the Communications Ministry director-general and to include delegates from the Regulatory Authority, Finance Ministry, Competition Authority and an academic representative.

It would nominate candidates for six public seats on the nine-member regulatory council, with the communications minister making the appointments; the remaining three seats would be filled by civil servants from the Communications Ministry and relevant regulators.

The Knesset approved the measure in a 53-48 vote on Thursday, completing one of Karhi principal legislative projects shortly before dissolution.

The statute creates a single broadcasting regulator to succeed the Second Authority for Television and Radio and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council.

It also introduces a fresh regulatory regime covering financial and local-production obligations as well as rules on distribution of public and commercial material.

The version ultimately passed was narrower than Karhi initial proposal.

Regulation, Enforcement and Prohibition Clauses Set Aside

Clauses addressing regulation of news providers, enforcement powers, international content platforms and prohibited broadcasts were detached from the bill prior to the final vote and are expected to advance separately.

Karhi and reform supporters contend that the current regulatory framework shields established broadcasters, limits competition and fails to suit today media environment.

Critics caution that the appointment structure would grant the government excessive sway over the body regulating broadcasters and could erode media independence.

The four new petitions were submitted by MKs Efrat Rayten of The Democrats and Eitan Ginzburg of Blue and White, Zulat for Equality and Human Rights, the Academy for Democratic Israel together with Bashaar, and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.

They were joined with earlier petitions lodged during debate by Hatzlaha, the Union of Journalists in Israel and the Israel Press Council.

Petitioners contest both the substance of the reform and the procedure used to advance it through the Knesset.

They argued among other points that the legislation proceeded without adequate professional preparation and via a special committee chaired by Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan instead of the Economic Affairs Committee despite its wide implications.

At a hearing last week Supreme Court President Isaac Amit and justices Alex Stein and Yechiel Kasher signaled reluctance to intervene before legislation concluded.

Amit remarked then that once the bill became law the petitions could be revised to challenge both its validity and procedural shortcomings.

Respondents must submit positions on the interim-order requests by Sunday July 26, after which the court will determine whether to retain the limited freeze, broaden it or permit the provisions to take effect while petitions remain pending.