High-profile case9/26/2026

From the Dispute Over Judges to the Refusal to Comply With High Court Rulings: A Chronicle of the Conflict

The reform of relations among the branches of government, which the government began advancing in January 2023, developed into a dispute over the powers of the Supreme Court and the obligation to comply with its rulings. At the center of the conflict were the reasonableness doctrine, the selection of the president of the Supreme Court, the convening of the Judicial Selection Committee, and the judicial order concerning the Second Authority for Television and Radio Council.

Key facts

•Start of the reform: January 4, 2023
•Amendment No. 3 to Basic Law: The Judiciary
•Amendment struck down by the High Court of Justice: January 1, 2024, by a vote of 8–7
•Yitzhak Amit selected as president: January 26, 2025
•Change to the committee’s composition: March 27, 2025, by a vote of 68–1
•Government’s refusal to recognize the interim order: July 5, 2026

How the Confrontation Began

On January 4, 2023, Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented a plan to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, limit judicial review of laws, introduce a mechanism for overriding rulings, and abolish the reasonableness doctrine. The coalition explained the reform as necessary to return decision-making to elected bodies and restore the balance among the branches of government. Opponents argued that in Israel, in the absence of a full constitution and a second legislative chamber, these measures would weaken one of the principal mechanisms for overseeing the government and the Knesset.

The Striking Down of the Reasonableness Amendment

On July 24, 2023, the Knesset approved, by a vote of 64–0, Amendment No. 3 to Basic Law: The Judiciary, which barred courts from reviewing the reasonableness of decisions by the government, the prime minister, and ministers. On January 1, 2024, the High Court of Justice struck down the amendment by an 8–7 majority—the first time an amendment to a Basic Law was struck down. However, 12 of the 15 justices recognized the Court’s authority to review Basic Laws in exceptional cases.

The Dispute Over the President and the Committee

Following Esther Hayut’s retirement in October 2023, Levin refused to convene the Judicial Selection Committee to appoint a permanent president of the Supreme Court, until the High Court of Justice ordered him to do so on September 8, 2024. On January 26, 2025, Yitzhak Amit was selected as president, but Levin declared that he did not recognize him in that role. On March 27, 2025, the Knesset changed the committee’s composition by a vote of 68–1, with the amendment set to take effect beginning with the next Knesset; on June 21, 2026, 11 justices heard objections to the amendment, but as of the publication date, no decision had yet been issued.

The Dispute Shifted to Compliance With Rulings

On May 31, 2026, the High Court of Justice ordered Levin to convene the committee to fill vacant judicial positions, and the minister called the decision unlawful. On July 5, 2026, the government unanimously decided not to recognize the High Court of Justice’s interim order, which left the powers of the previous composition of the Second Authority for Television and Radio Council in force. On July 7, the justices warned that a public servant who knowingly refrains from complying with a judicial decision could bear personal liability.

Attacks and Violence

The conflict was accompanied by harsh public statements against judges. On June 3, 2026, dozens of Haredi protesters arrived at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in Alon Shvut, smashed windows, and damaged his car; more than 70 people were arrested. On June 14, four participants were indicted for participating in a riot, and two of them were also charged with trespassing; according to the indictment, stones were thrown at the house.

What this means for you

For residents of Israel, the dispute concerns not only how judges are appointed, but also whether courts can effectively review decisions by the government and ministers. The High Court of Justice’s warning of July 7, 2026, makes clear that a public servant’s knowing failure to comply with a judicial decision could lead to personal liability. The final status of the amendment concerning the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee has not yet been determined, because as of the publication date, no decision had yet been issued on the objections filed.

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