Minister in Netanyahu’s party calls for Smotrich’s vow to ‘trample’ Supreme Court chief to be ‘put into action’

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.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the special panel on a contentious communications bill at the Knesset, December 8, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the special panel on a contentious communications bill at the Knesset, December 8, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party says that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s vow to “trample” Supreme Court President Isaac Amit should be implemented, calling on the government to openly defy rulings by the High Court of Justice.

“The finance minister’s words must be put into action. The time to act has long since arrived. We say no (!) to illegal orders from the High Court of Justice and save Israeli democracy,” says Karhi in a post on X.

Earlier today, Smotrich vowed to “trample” Amit, whom he accused of being “a violent megalomaniac who is stealing Israeli democracy,” causing outrage among opposition lawmakers and the Judicial Authority, who accused him of incitement.

In a statement posted on X, Karhi urges Smotrich to “stand tall” and ignore criticism.

He calls on the government to defy recent court rulings, including yesterday’s decision to freeze the government’s controversial closure of Army Radio.

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