Israeli Supreme Court Suspends Implementation of New Telecommunications Law

Israel’s Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the parts of a newly passed communications reform that were set to take effect immediately. The law, approved by the Knesset 53‑48 before the parliament’s dissolution, would overhaul licensing, allow the creation of new news channels with minimal regulation, cut the public broadcaster’s budget and increase government control over audience‑measurement data and state advertising. Justice Ofer Grosskopf ordered the suspension pending a full review of eight petitions that allege procedural defects and violations of press‑freedom rights. The government argues the changes will open the telecom market and enhance freedom of expression, while critics warn they could undermine media pluralism. The injunction also prevents French‑language channel i24 and other cable‑satellite providers from broadcasting under the new rules until the court decides.