By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Israel’s legal and political landscape, Justice Minister Yariv Levin issued a stark ultimatum on last Month , regarding the future of the nation’s highest court.
During an interview with the Ynet news site, Levin signaled that he is prepared to let the Supreme Court gradually disappear by refusing to convene the Judicial Selection Committee unless his preferred conservative candidates are appointed. The statement marks a dramatic escalation in a constitutional standoff that has paralyzed judicial appointments for over a year.
The crisis reached a boiling point this week as a court-mandated deadline expired on May 7, 2026. The High Court of Justice had previously ordered Levin to provide a clear timeline for convening the selection committee to fill dozens of vacancies across the judicial system. As of the deadline’s passing, Levin’s office declined to confirm whether he would comply, instead framing his refusal as a necessary fight for ideological diversity.
Levin’s strategy centers on the appointment of two hardline conservative academics, Aviad Bakshi and Raphael Bitton. Currently, the Supreme Court is operating with four vacancies out of its fifteen seats.
Levin noted that within the current Knesset term, five more justices will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70, leaving only six sitting justices—less than half of the court’s full strength. “If there is no willingness [to agree to my picks], the court will gradually disappear on its own,” Levin stated, highlighting a starvation tactic intended to force a transformation of the bench.
The implications extend far beyond the Supreme Court. Earlier this week, on May 3, 2026, the High Court heard petitions regarding the 51 judicial vacancies across magistrates’ and district courts—a number expected to rise to 66 by the end of the year.
Critics, including opposition MK Karine Elharrar, argue that Levin is abusing his chairmanship to grant himself a unilateral veto, bypassing the traditional consensus-based model. Legal experts warn that a depleted judiciary will lead to a collapse in public trust and an inability to protect civil liberties.
As the government prepares to publish a limited list of candidates for lower courts on, the fate of the Supreme Court remains locked in a high-stakes game of political chicken.