JERUSALEM / Anadolu Agency

** The Israeli government announced days ago its refusal to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the regulatory body for commercial broadcasting, and on Wednesday announced its rejection of the court's decision concerning the State Comptroller.

** Since the formation of Netanyahu's government at the end of 2022, relations with the Supreme Court have been marked by tension and controversy.

** Former Deputy Attorney General, in response to a question about accepting election results: 'I don't know.'

** Smotrich was asked about fears of a civil war breaking out in Israel and replied: 'This must not happen.'

The internal crisis in Israel is worsening as Benjamin Netanyahu's government escalates its confrontation with the Supreme Court, ahead of a general election described as decisive for his political future.

The terms 'constitutional crisis' and 'civil war' have returned to circulation in Israel, as the date for the general election approaches, which must be held by October 27.

Questions are not limited to who will win the election, but extend to whether it will be held on time and to what extent its results will be respected.

There are also growing fears that Netanyahu might resume war on Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran in an effort to boost his electoral chances or postpone the election if he is certain of losing.

At the same time, the internal confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court is escalating against the backdrop of government officials' refusal to comply with judicial rulings.

State Comptroller

At the beginning of the week, the Israeli government announced its non-compliance with the Supreme Court's decision regarding the 'Second Authority for Broadcasting' council, before Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on Wednesday to ignore another ruling regarding the election of the State Comptroller.

Levin demanded that the Knesset not comply with the Supreme Court's ruling ordering a re-election of the State Comptroller, saying that Michael Rapilo, Netanyahu's former personal attorney, should assume the post immediately.

The Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth said that Levin believes Rapilo must take the post, despite the Supreme Court's ruling to hold a new vote in the Knesset, noting that the justices did not set a deadline for the new election.

In an interview with Kol Barama radio, affiliated with Haredi Jews, Levin said: 'There is no doubt, a new election for State Comptroller cannot be held, and attorney Rapilo must assume the post immediately.'

Levin's remarks came six days after the Supreme Court issued a ruling obligating the Knesset to hold a new election to choose the State Comptroller.

The Knesset has not yet announced a date for the re-election, amid opposition from coalition parties to the court's ruling.

Ballot Photos

The process of selecting Rapilo as State Comptroller sparked widespread controversy, after Likud party members were asked to take photos of themselves behind the voting curtain holding papers with his name to prove their loyalty to Netanyahu's candidate.

Photos of Likud members holding ballot papers later circulated, prompting the Supreme Court to issue its ruling in response to a petition filed by the opposition.

The Knesset elected Rapilo last month after two rounds of voting.

In the first round, retired Supreme Court judge Yosef Elron, the opposition candidate, received 60 votes, compared to 57 for Rapilo.

Since neither obtained the required quorum of 61 votes, a second round was held in which Rapilo received exactly 61 votes.

'Enemy of Democracy'

On Wednesday, Gadi Eisenkot, head of the opposition Yashar party and one of the leading candidates to succeed Netanyahu, condemned Levin's statements, calling him an 'enemy of Israeli democracy.'

In a post on the American platform X, Eisenkot said: 'Yariv Levin, the man who led the process of overhauling the system, even at the expense of dismantling Israeli society, while Netanyahu hides behind him, is one of the main contributors to Israel reaching its lowest levels, and an enemy of Israeli democracy.'

He added: 'Netanyahu and his government continue to undermine the foundations of democracy on the eve of the most important elections in Israel's history.'

He continued, addressing Netanyahu: 'The people of Israel will stand against you like an impenetrable wall, and we will not allow you to dismantle Israel.'

Constitutional Crisis

Yedioth Ahronoth described the current developments as a 'constitutional crisis.'

Finance Minister and leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, told the newspaper: 'We are mired in the crisis that the Supreme Court is deliberately creating; there is an illegitimate ruling that contradicts a legitimate Knesset vote.'

He added: 'Time and again, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit and Government Legal Adviser Gali Baharav-Miara seek chaos here and want to drag us into a crisis.'

He continued that the court 'issues rulings that violate the law,' accusing the legal adviser of 'abusing the authority of her position' and calling for an investigation into her.

Smotrich claimed that placing the court and the legal adviser 'above the Knesset, the government, and the people' poses a danger, in his words.

In response to a question about fears of a civil war breaking out in Israel, he said: 'This must not happen.'

'Dismantling Israel'

Meanwhile, opposition Democratic Party leader Yair Golan said in a post on X that the justice minister 'is acting like a criminal and calling for violating the Supreme Court's ruling.'

He added: 'They fear having a State Comptroller who performs his duties, and they want a puppet in their hands, and they are ready to burn the country, violate the law, and stir a constitutional crisis to appoint him.'

He continued: 'It is time to go to the polls and topple this destructive government before it dismantles Israel.'

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in Israel, and refusing to implement its rulings could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.

The government's stance toward the court also raises questions about the possibility of the same scenario occurring if the ruling coalition loses the upcoming general election.

Former Deputy Attorney General Erez Kaminitz told Ynet: 'During my tenure I worked under three different justice ministers, and I do not recall a single one saying we would not comply with a Supreme Court ruling.'

He added: 'This undermines the principle of separation of powers and democracy.'

When asked in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth whether he fears the results of the upcoming election will not be accepted, he said: 'I don't know; there are many ministers trying to exploit public resources for their personal interests.'

Deep-Rooted Tension

On Tuesday, Netanyahu's government and the Supreme Court exchanged criticisms after the government announced its refusal to comply with a judicial ruling regarding the 'Second Authority for Broadcasting' council.

The council is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing commercial television channels and radio stations in Israel and regulating their work.

On June 17, the Supreme Court issued a ruling freezing the government's decisions regarding the appointment of a new council for the authority and keeping the current council until final rulings on petitions against those appointments.

On Tuesday, the court criticized the government's announcement of non-compliance with its ruling, warning of the consequences of ignoring judicial decisions.

The government had announced that it would not recognize any decision, approval, appointment, or action issued by the 'Second Authority' council as long as it does not meet the minimum conditions stipulated by law, following the court's decision to reactivate the council.