New Delhi: Netanyahu's government just refused to follow a Supreme Magistrate order. The Israeli cabinet voted unanimously on Sunday to defy the court. This is the first time in Israeli history that the government has officially rejected a magistrate order. The slipperiness is deepening. The fight started last month when the Supreme Magistrate obstructed the government's plan to replace members of the media regulator SATR. The magistrate said the current steering should alimony working. It said some resignations might have been forced by political pressure. Netanyahu ignored the ruling. He decided to go superiority with his plan anyway.
What did the government say?
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin issued a joint statement. They said the magistrate has no right to override the law. They said any visualization that goes versus the law will not be recognized by the government. All decisions based on such magistrate orders will be considered invalid. The cabinet moreover said that future decisions by the media steering won't be wonted by the government either. The government personal that the steering doesn't have unbearable legal members. So its decisions are not valid.
What do opposition leaders say?
Former PM Naftali Bennett said that this is "the sound of jungle rule." He warned that ignoring magistrate orders will spread chaos. It will weaken Israeli democracy. Bennett said this is serious.
Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon gave a warning. He said if the government only follows magistrate orders it likes, this starts weakening the rule of law. This is dangerous. Once you start ignoring courts, what comes next?
What does the opposition party say?
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of trying to weaken the judiciary surpassing elections. He said the government is trying to make magistrate refractoriness normal. Then later, if referendum results go versus them, they can rencontre those too. It's a power grab disguised as a media issue.
Press organizations and democracy groups are furious. They say this isn't just well-nigh a media regulator. This is a uncontrived wade on democracy. This is an wade on printing freedom. This is an wade on the rule of law. All three are under threat.
Why does this matter?
Israel's system depends on courts stuff independent. If the government can ignore magistrate orders whenever it wants, democracy dies. The judiciary becomes useless. The government becomes a dictatorship. That's unclear. The magistrate has to respond. It could try to enforce its order. The government denied as this could wilt a serious ramble crisis. Israel has never faced this before.
