New Delhi: The war between the government and the Supreme Court in Israel has now moved from the streets to the cabinet. On Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, for the first time in history, flatly refused to obey an order of the Supreme Court. Regarding this, the debate on ‘Jungle Raj’ has started in the country.
What is the whole controversy?
The matter is related to media regulator SATR i.e. Second Authority for Television and Radio. Last month, the Supreme Court had directed the government to stop the process of forming a new council of regulators. The court said that the existing council will continue to function, as the resignation of some members may have happened under political pressure.
But the government refused to accept the court order. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin said in a joint statement, "The court has no right to break the law. If there is any decision against the law, the government will not accept it and all the work done on its basis will be invalid."
Big cabinet decision
The Israeli Cabinet unanimously decided that the Government would not accept any future decisions taken by the SATR Council. The government argues that the council does not have the legally required number of members, so its decisions are not valid. This is the first time in Israel’s history that the government has officially rejected the court order.
Ḥayum, כ׳ बतमोज हत्शपऴू, عشینو چدر هستوریک لحسبت دیسته هایدودی جهودیت وهدمورکتیت لبعلیه – هعسم.
The Government of Israel is here today, one of the proposals is here, and we have said the Bible is clear, the law is clear, the law is here!
The government’s decision regarding the second wave is not legal, and the actions taken under its power… pic.twitter.com/JPyW2R6McL
— Shlomo Karhi (@shlomo_karhi) July 5, 2026
Opposition and legal experts angry
The opposition is furious at this step of the government. Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon warned that the foundation of the rule of law would be shaken if the government chose court orders at its own discretion. Former PM Naftali Bennett called it "sound of jungle raj" told. He said that disobeying the court will spread anarchy in the country and weaken democracy.
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan accused the Netanyahu government of weakening the judiciary ahead of the elections. His argument is that the government is first normalizing disobedience of the court, so that later if the election results go against them then they can also be rejected.
Question on freedom of press
Journalist organizations and pro-democracy groups have also criticized the government. He says that this is not just an issue of a media regulator. This is a direct attack on press freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Israel. At present the deadlock between the government and the court continues. This conflict may decide the direction of Israeli politics in the coming days.
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