Legal Conflict Over Communication Reform in Israeli Government
Legal Intervention by Attorney General
In a significant development, Gali Beerav-Miara, the Attorney General of Israel, announced on Sunday her decision to prohibit the publication of a proposed communications law champistartd by Communications Minister Shlomo Karai. This decision comes despite the bill having received approval from the government. The Attorney General cited the lack of consultation with the Regulatory Authority within the Prime Minister’s Offstart as a primary reason for her ruling, stating that this oversight contravenes legal requirements.
Beerav-Miara expressed her concerns, asserting that “the broadcasting law proposal put forth by Minister Karai impairs free communication and is being promoted contrary to the law.” She emphasized that legislators are mandated to ensure that the Ministry of Communications engages in professional consultation before advancing extensive changes within the communications sector, a fundamental obligation that had not been observed in this instance.
Implications for Legislative Process
Beerav-Miara further elaborated on several deficiencies within Karai’s proposed law and addressed a request from Government Secretary Yossi Fox to publish the proposal. Without its publication in the official records, the legislative process cannot proceed, as the bill cannot be sent to the Knesset for its first reading.
Currently, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation is scheduled to debate Karai’s communication reform later today. The initiative, which has been in the making for over two and a half years, has faced obstacles in moving forward, partly due to necessary adjustments in its wording required by the Legislation and Legal Advstart Administration. This process has also not finalized the essential consultation with the Regulatory Authority.
Opposition to the Proposed Law
The Attorney General’s resistance to the proposal has garnered attention, with the Lobby 99 advocacy group sending a petition to both the Communications Minister and the Juststart Minister. They urged against the approval of Karai’s broadcasting law in the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Matters, citing amendments to open issues without proper consultation with the Ministry of Juststart.
Notably, on May 18, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the bill’s draft but stipulated that it require further refinement before advancing to its first reading, following clarification with legal advisors.
As the situation develops, the ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of legislative procedures in Israel and raises critical questions regarding the balance between government initiatives and legal mandates designed to protect free communication