Israel Constitutional Crisis: Netanyahu Vows to Defy High Court
Netanyahu's government has refused to obey a Supreme Court ruling, triggering what critics call a coup or insurrection — a dangerous moment for Israeli democracy.
- Israel's high court blocked Netanyahu from taking over the country's media regulator; his government said it will ignore the ruling — the first time any Israeli government has openly defied the Supreme Court.
- Critics, including the attorney general and opposition leaders, call it an insurrection, comparing it to a power grab modeled on Hungary's Orban gutting the free press before an election.
- Cracks are showing in Netanyahu's own party, with ministers reportedly afraid of jail time and election backlash for defying the court.
- The move comes as Netanyahu rushes to pass a wave of laws in the next 10 days, before the parliament session ends and his powers get curbed ahead of elections.
- In a Fox interview, Netanyahu laughed off claims Israel is isolated, pointing mainly to online support from India rather than real allies.
Outlook: Expect a deepening standoff between the government and the courts, with Netanyahu possibly seeking a White House visit to dodge unpopular votes at home.