High Court temporarily blocks parts of new communications law passed by Knesset

Israel's High Court of Justice on Sunday issued a temporary injunction delaying the implementation of key provisions of a controversial communications law approved by the Knesset last week.

The legislation, championed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, would expand the government's authority over aspects of Israel's communications sector, including changes to regulatory oversight and the appointment of senior officials.

Supporters say the reforms are intended to streamline regulation and modernize the country's media and telecommunications framework, while critics argue they could weaken the independence of regulatory bodies and increase political influence over the sector.

The temporary order follows petitions filed by opposition lawmakers Efrat Rayten and Eitan Ginzburg, along with several civil society organizations, including Zulat, For Equality and Human Rights and the Movement for Quality Government. The petitioners asked the court to halt provisions of the law that were scheduled to take effect immediately.

Justice Ofer Grosskopf ruled that those provisions will remain suspended until the court decides whether to issue a broader interim injunction while it considers the legal challenges.

Several petitions have been consolidated into a single case. In explaining the decision, Grosskopf said the petitions raise substantial questions about both the legislative process used to pass the law and the legality of some of its provisions. He added that allowing the changes to take effect before the court completes its review could create consequences that would be difficult to reverse if the law is ultimately struck down.

The court's decision does not invalidate the legislation but temporarily pauses parts of it while the legal proceedings continue.