Knesset speaker attacks judiciary after refusing to invite High Court chief to anniversary event

By Ariela Karmel

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2 February 2026, 5:31 pm

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Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana speaks during a plenum session at the parliament in Jerusalem, February 17, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana opens a special Knesset plenum session marking the body’s 77th birthday and the building’s 60th anniversary by accusing the High Court of eroding the power of the elected government.

The attack comes after Ohana refused to invite Supreme Court President Isaac Amit to the event, leading some opposition MKs to boycott it.

Ohana acknowledges that while historically Supreme Court justices have been invited to such ceremonies, “other customs have also been violated.”

“I regret that once again, there are those who see the non-invitation to a ceremonial event as a substantive blow to Israel’s democratic system,” he continues. “I regret even more that those same people accept with equanimity the transformation of the judicial branch into a super-authority that can adjudicate, legislate, and annul legislation and Basic Laws – like an all-powerful king,” he says.

“Respect between branches of government is not one-sided. One cannot demand that the legislative branch respect the judicial branch while the latter continues to erode the former’s powers of all substance,” Ohana continues, while adding that his “hand is extended” to “bridge the gaps.”

That remark is an apparent reference to Amit’s statement last week that he is “always extending a hand” to Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who refuses to recognize his authority.

Ohana notes that the coalition’s boycott of the judiciary will not extend to national memorial days, such as Yom Hazikaron or Yom Hashoah, and that the government “will not drag the dispute into those sacred days.”