# Israel judicial and media reforms face court challenges > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/israel-supreme-courtharedi-clash > Updated: 2026-08-03T18:11:44.000Z. Sources: 49. Developments: 13. In early June, dozens of Haredi demonstrators attacked the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in Alon Shvut, smashing windows and leaving a swastika‑style flag; police detained around 50 participants and government officials condemned the violence. Minister of Religious Services Dudi Amoslam then accused Supreme Court judges and legal advisers of anti‑Semitism, while a break‑in at Justice Naom Solberg’s residence led to four arrests and charges of trespass. The Knesset and High Court turned to the March 2025 amendment to the Basic Law: the Judiciary. On 21 June the High Court heard petitions challenging the removal of Israel Bar Association members from the Judicial Selection Committee; justices questioned the rationale and the hearing was briefly disrupted by MK Tali Gotliv. Supreme Court Judge Yitzhak Amit warned the amendment could embed political bias in future appointments. On 5 July the Netanyahu cabinet voted to ignore a Supreme Court order that the Second Authority for Television and Radio retain quorum, marking the first open defiance of a binding court ruling. Two days later the Knesset passed a bill allowing the government to sideline the attorney‑general in certain cases, while the High Court annulled a state‑comptroller vote over ballot‑secrecy concerns. Shabak chief David Zini faced a leak probe and, in leaked remarks, pledged to follow the prime minister if a clash with the court arose, drawing condemnation from President Herzog and former Shabak head Yoav Cohen. On 14 July the Knesset approved the media‑reform law (53‑48) and the attorney‑general split (65‑51). Civil‑rights groups filed High Court petitions; the court issued a temporary injunction on 19 July suspending the new telecommunications law and again on 25 July froze parts of the media reform pending review. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Israeli Minister Shlomo Karai Calls Emergency Knesset Session Over Supreme Court Broadcast Law Freeze Israel’s Supreme Court froze a newly passed broadcast law; Minister Shlomo Karai seeks an emergency Knesset session, citing constitutional breach and urging a plenary vote to reaffirm legislative authority. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-minister-shlomo-karai-calls-emergency-knesset-session-over-supreme-court-broadcast-law-freez ### 2026-07-25: Israel Passes Controversial Media Reform Bill Ahead of Election Israel’s Knesset passed a media reform bill increasing government control over news, prompting press‑freedom concerns and a High Court freeze ahead of the Oct 27 election. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-passes-controversial-media-reform-bill-ahead-of-election ### 2026-07-19: Israeli Supreme Court Suspends Implementation of New Telecommunications Law Israel’s Supreme Court has temporarily blocked key provisions of a Knesset‑passed communications reform, citing procedural and press‑freedom concerns while the law’s impact on media licensing and public‑broadc­ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-supreme-court-suspends-implementation-of-new-telecommunications-law ### 2026-07-14: Israel's Knesset passes controversial media and attorney‑general reforms Israel's Knesset approved a media reform law (53‑48) establishing a government‑run authority, and a separate attorney‑general split law (65‑51) giving the cabinet power to dismiss the AG and ignore its opinions 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israels-knesset-passes-law-curbing-attorney-general-powers ### 2026-07-08: Israel's Shabak chief David Zini faces leak probe and political backlash Former Shabak chief calls for swift probe of a leak on an Iranian attack, while David Zini's brother says the head would follow Netanyahu over the Supreme Court, sparking political uproar. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israels-shabak-chief-david-zini-faces-leak-probe-and-political-backlash ### 2026-07-07: Israel Knesset passes bill letting government sideline attorney general as court orders comptroller vote rerun Israel's Knesset approved a bill allowing the government to ignore the attorney general while the High Court cancelled the state comptroller vote, ordering a rerun, heightening the judicial‑government conflict. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-knesset-passes-bill-letting-government-sideline-attorney-general-as-court-orders-comptroller- ### 2026-07-05: Netanyahu government defies Israel Supreme Court over broadcast regulator Israel’s cabinet voted to reject a Supreme Court order on the broadcast regulator, saying the council lacks a legal quorum and its decisions will not be recognised, sparking a constitutional crisis ahead of the 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-government-rejects-supreme-court-ruling-on-media-regulator-deepening-constitutional-crisis ### 2026-06-21: Israeli Minister Gila Gamliel slams Supreme Court judge and legal adviser Israeli Minister Gila Gamliel attacked Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit and the government legal adviser, accusing them of anti‑democratic actions and proposing AI‑run judge panels. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-minister-gila-gamliel-slams-supreme-court-judge-and-legal-adviser ### 2026-06-21: Israel's High Court hears challenges to judicial selection reform Israel’s High Court heard petitions to overturn a 2025 law that reshapes the Judicial Selection Committee, removing Bar Association members and boosting political control, sparking a debate over judicial‑execut 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israels-high-court-hears-challenges-to-judicial-selection-reform ### 2026-06-21: Israel Supreme Court judges selection debate intensifies as Knesset rejects repeat vote for State Comptroller Israeli Supreme Court Judge Yitzhak Amit warned the new judicial amendment could politicise judges, while the Knesset rejected the court's call for a repeat State Comptroller vote, keeping the dispute alive. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-supreme-court-judges-selection-debate-intensifies-as-knesset-rejects-repeat-vote-for-state-co ### 2026-06-14: Israeli legal disputes involve Supreme Court judge's home break-in and Netanyahu son defamation case Israel sees two high‑profile legal battles: suspects in a break‑in at Supreme Court Justice Naom Solberg’s home discuss fear of detention, while Yair Netanyahu sues Prof. Avshalom Elitzur for defamation over ta 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-legal-disputes-involve-supreme-court-judges-home-break-in-and-netanyahu-son-defamation-case ### 2026-06-09: Israeli Minister Dudi Amoslam Accuses Supreme Court Judges of Anti‑Semitism Israeli minister Dudi Amoslam attacked the Supreme Court and legal advisers as anti‑Semitic, condemned the status of Torah study and opposed Netanyahu’s plan for ten ministerial list slots. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-minister-dudi-amoslam-accuses-supreme-court-judges-of-antisemitism ### 2026-06-03: Israeli Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg's Home Attacked by Haredi Protesters Haredi protesters attacked Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg's home in Alon Shvut, Israel, breaking windows and leaving a swastika‑flag; police arrested about 50, and Israeli leaders condemned the violence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-supreme-court-justice-noam-sohlbergs-home-attacked-by-haredi-protesters --- Cite as: Israel judicial and media reforms face court challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/israel-supreme-courtharedi-clash