{"text":[[{"start":7.65,"text":"Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has formally rejected a ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court on television regulation, raising fears it could precipitate a constitutional crisis by defying the judiciary in more consequential cases."}],[{"start":22.25,"text":"Sunday’s cabinet decision on a little-followed regulatory dispute over the board of the TV regulator marked the first time an Israeli government has officially announced it will not recognise a ruling by the nation’s highest judicial body."}],[{"start":35.9,"text":"“You have no authority to trample the law — a ruling that contradicts the law will not be recognised, and decisions made under its authority are null and void,” communications minister Shlomo Karhi said in comments directed at the Supreme Court."}],[{"start":49.349999999999994,"text":"Yariv Levin, justice minister, went further, stating that any decision passed by parliament was legal and could not be struck down."}],[{"start":57.49999999999999,"text":"“The rule of law means that the law binds everyone, including the court. In a democratic state, the [parliament] enacts the law, and the court is obligated to implement it,” Levin said."}],[{"start":68.69999999999999,"text":"The government and the court have been locked in a stand-off since March over the board of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, which is responsible for approving licensing and content in the commercial sector."}],[{"start":81.49999999999999,"text":"The dispute centres on the government’s attempt to impose an alternative board of directors at Israel’s television regulator. The Supreme Court ruled the alternative board illegal last month. On Sunday, the cabinet insisted it would not recognise any moves made by the existing board."}],[{"start":99.04999999999998,"text":"“Non-compliance with a court ruling is a red line that must not be crossed under any circumstances,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote in a post on X."}],[{"start":110.64999999999998,"text":"Opposition leaders denounced the government’s decision as a power grab that could set a precedent for similar moves in the future, including relating to court rulings surrounding an upcoming general election in October."}],[{"start":123.09999999999998,"text":"“Disobeying a court ruling leads to anarchy in the streets and to the dismantling of our state,” said former prime minister Naftali Bennett, one of Netanyahu’s main rivals for the premiership."}],[{"start":134.79999999999998,"text":"Bennett’s running mate and current opposition leader, Yair Lapid, said: “A government that does not accept the Supreme Court ruling turns, on the spot, into an illegal government whose rulings and decisions we will not accept.”"}],[{"start":148.45,"text":"Critics say the government push to change the TV regulator’s board was designed to block the sale of Channel 13, an influential broadcaster critical of Netanyahu, to a consortium of tech entrepreneurs led by billionaire Assaf Rappaport that is regarded as hostile to his government."}],[{"start":165.89999999999998,"text":"Channel 13, which is known for its biting investigations into the prime minister and his family, was the target of competing bids earlier this year — including by a tycoon deemed close to the premier — despite flagging ratings and financial losses."}],[{"start":180.24999999999997,"text":"Opponents say Netanyahu’s current administration has since the start of its term in early 2023 tried to undermine the independence and authority of the country’s judicial and legal bodies under a controversial “reform” agenda."}],[{"start":194.04999999999998,"text":"Netanyahu’s far-right government has continued to push for greater influence over judicial bodies and the media despite nine months of nationwide mass demonstrations against such moves prior to the October 2023 attack by Gaza militant group Hamas and war across the Middle East since."}],[{"start":211.89999999999998,"text":"The Union of Journalists in Israel said the government’s decision was “transparently intended” to stop the sale of Channel 13 to the tech consortium."}],[{"start":220.45,"text":"This was “not just an attack on one channel or one deal”, the union said in a statement. “This is an hour of emergency for Israeli democracy. Whoever does not raise their voice now may find that later on they can no longer speak.”"}],[{"start":243.14999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1783298092_6837.mp3"}