Government officials criticized the High Court of Justice for overstepping its authority and causing harm to the nation on Wednesday evening. This came after the court issued a six-to-five ruling, delaying the implementation of the government’s recusal law. The law, aimed at protecting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from being compelled to recuse himself from office, was deemed “null and void” by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.
Karhi argued that both the recent ruling on the recusal law and Monday’s decision to strike down legislation preventing courts from evaluating government decisions based on the judicial standard of reasonableness contradict democratically enacted Basic Laws and, therefore, hold no validity.
The court ruled that the recusal law, an amendment to the Basic Law: The Government, would take effect at the beginning of the next Knesset term after the upcoming national elections. Although not striking it down, the court deemed the recusal law a “clearly personal amendment” and an improper use of the Knesset’s power to amend Basic Laws.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin criticized the court, stating that their decisions were causing harm to the unity of the people, especially at a time when soldiers were sacrificing their lives. Levin emphasized the importance of a democratically elected prime minister being replaced through the ballot box rather than a court verdict.
Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis expressed disappointment at the court’s behavior, accusing it of dividing the people during a critical time when unity is essential.
The Movement for Governability and Democracy, a conservative group, declared the court had no authority to discuss Basic Laws, reject their applicability, disqualify them, or approve them. They emphasized the need for a real balance between government branches.
Opponents of the recusal law argued last September that it aimed to shield Netanyahu from consequences related to a conflict of interest agreement he signed in 2020. The agreement prohibited him from involving himself in judicial matters affecting his ongoing corruption trial.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, one of the petitioners against the law, hailed the court’s ruling as an important victory for the Israeli public. They argued that Basic Laws should not be subject to the prime minister’s whims.
Yisrael Beytenu opposition party welcomed the decision, and MK Oded Forer expressed satisfaction that the law would only apply from the next Knesset, preventing absurd situations. Labor MK Gilad Kariv criticized Netanyahu’s coalition for creating an unprecedented constitutional crisis and praised the Supreme Court’s rulings to protect democracy and moral purity against measures undermining basic democratic principles.