Israel's attorney-general on Friday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of breaking the law by ignoring a conflict of interest over his ongoing trial for corruption and getting directly involved in his government's judicial overhaul plan.
In the face of intensifying protests against the proposed changes, which its critics charge would weaken the Supreme Court, Netanyahu said on Thursday he was putting aside all other considerations and would do “anything it takes” to reach a solution.
After media reports that Defence Minister Yoav Gallant would call for the plans to be halted on Thursday, Netanyahu summoned his defence chief who outlined the potential impact of the overhaul on the armed forces, where growing numbers of reservists have declared they will not serve. “The legal situation is clear: you must refrain from any involvement in initiatives to change the judiciary,” she wrote in the letter made public by the office of the justice ministry spokesperson. “Your statement last night and any action you take in violation of this matter is illegal.”
The source said it was incumbent on the premier to try to reach a wide consensus at a time of national crisis that carried implications for the country both domestically and abroad. Following the attorney-general's letter, the watchdog group Movement for Quality Government in Israel said it would file a motion for contempt of the court and demand that Netanyahu be subjected to sanctions as stipulated by law, including heavy fines and imprisonment.
The proposed plan has sparked weeks of nationwide demonstrations and drew concern among the country's Western allies.
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