High Court signals petitions against Karhi broadcasting reform may be premature

The High Court of Justice on Monday expressed reluctance to intervene in Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's broadcasting reform before its final passage, with Chief Justice Isaac Amit and Justices Alex Stein and Yechiel Kasher repeatedly questioning whether petitions against it were premature. The court heard three petitions from Hatzlaha, the Union of Journalists in Israel, and the Israel Press Council, which cited procedural defects in the bill's advancement. Justice Stein stated, "The court is a passive body, not an active one. It does not enter in the middle of political processes." The justices indicated that intervening at this stage could undermine the separation of powers, suggesting that any procedural issues could be addressed if and when the bill becomes law. The court did not issue an immediate decision, but the judges' remarks signaled significant skepticism about pre-emptive intervention.