Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been conspicuously quiet as his own government officials announced they will defy an Israeli Supreme Court ruling, marking a stark reversal from his previous public statements defending judicial decisions. In 2015, when the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of buildings in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, Netanyahu defended the judges and backed their ruling. Four years later, in 2019, he reiterated that “Supreme Court decisions are binding on everyone.” However, when his Justice Minister and Communications Minister confirmed this week that the government will not comply with a recent Supreme Court decision, Netanyahu remained silent.
The apparent contradiction highlights growing tensions between Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s judicial system. For years, the Prime Minister has positioned himself as a defender of the rule of law and institutional hierarchy, publicly reaffirming that court rulings must be respected by all branches of government. These statements came at a time when Netanyahu’s own legal troubles—including facing multiple indictments—made him a vocal supporter of legal institutions.
The government’s explicit defiance of the Supreme Court represents an unprecedented challenge to Israel’s judicial independence. By announcing non-compliance through senior ministers without any public pushback from the Prime Minister, the government appears to be testing the limits of the court’s authority. Netanyahu’s silence on the matter stands in sharp contrast to his earlier willingness to defend court decisions, even when they were unpopular with his political base.
The shift raises questions about Netanyahu’s true views on judicial authority and whether his previous statements defending the courts were genuinely held principles or tactical positions taken when his government faced different circumstances.
Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.
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