Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Maintain Freeze on Shlomo Karhi's Broadcasting Law

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has urged the Supreme Court to maintain an interim injunction freezing the implementation of the controversial broadcasting law initiated by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, pending a final ruling on petitions against it.

In her submission to the court, the Attorney General argued that the issue extends beyond disagreements over the law's content, pointing to an unprecedented accumulation of procedural flaws throughout the legislative process, from its government formulation to its approval in the Knesset.

According to the legal counsel, the flaws severely compromised the right of Knesset members to participate effectively in the legislative process and disrupted the constitutional balance between the executive and legislative branches. She also noted that the bill was published in the official gazette without the required legal approval from the Attorney General's office, describing the step as exceptional and unprecedented.

The Attorney General highlighted the rushed pace of the legislation, noting that while the Knesset's legal advisory team proposed a gradual framework for discussion and staff work on contentious issues, this outline was ultimately abandoned. She also criticized Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and the special committee headed by MK Galit Distel Atbarian for promoting the measure in a manner that undermined parliamentary independence.

Furthermore, the Attorney General warned that enacting the law could trigger irreversible structural changes in the media market, particularly regarding news and current affairs broadcasting. This concern is heightened given the upcoming election period and the potential impact on freedom of expression and freedom of the press.