Levin: High Court acting ‘like dictators’ after justices warned against officials not obeying rulings

Justice Minister Yariv Levin condemns the High Court of Justice over its warning that public officials may be exposed to civil damages suits if they do not abide by court rulings.

“Like the last of the dictators who have lost the public’s trust, they are threatening to use force to suppress those who demand justice. They will not succeed,” writes Levin on Facebook.

“It is time for the justices to engage in some soul-searching about how they reached such a low point. Respect for the law and respect for democratic decisions are obligations incumbent on every citizen, even if that citizen is a justice of the Supreme Court,” he says.

The war of words between the court and the government comes against the background of the government’s declaration on Sunday, issued by Levin himself and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, that it does not view a High Court ruling regarding the Second Authority media regulation body as valid.

That declaration appeared designed to undercut the ability of the Second Authority council to function at present, and in particular to approve the acquisition of Channel 13 by a tech entrepreneur who is a prominent government critic.

The High Court’s decision today seems calculated to warn the Second Authority council members that they could be exposed to civil damages suits, for instance from anyone who would be negatively affected by a failure to approve the Channel 13 deal, if they do not act in accordance with its ruling on the matter.

The court issued its statement as a “decision” to make it part of the official case record and formally express how it expects the existing law and prior court orders to be respected.