The Supreme Court issued a conditional order on Monday against the government, requiring it to justify its decision to shutter Army Radio. The decision to temporarily freeze the closure sparked renewed calls from coalition ministers to defy the courts.

The court decision shifted the burden of proof to the government and called on both sides to focus on whether the decision-making process and considerations were correctly followed.

The government must submit its position by no later than March 15, going beyond the March 1 date set by the government to shut the station, according to the decision delivered by Justices Daphne Barak-Erez, Alex Stein and Yechiel Kasher.

The decision sparked open calls from government ministers to ignore the court ruling. Ministers have in recent months repeatedly called to defy court orders, part of the government’s ongoing push to overhaul the judiciary in a move that critics say will undermine Israeli democracy and the system of checks and balances.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi vowed to boycott the station and said the court’s rulings should be treated with a “shrug.”

“The decision [to close Army Radio] must be implemented on March 1. Even if the High Court of Justice set a deadline for submitting responses to the conditional order after that........

© The Times of Israel