Netanyahu’s role in Israeli judicial overhaul ‘illegal’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has violated the law by saying he would get personally involved in a judicial overhaul plan, the attorney-general says.

In the face of intensifying protests against the proposed changes, Netanyahu said on Thursday he was putting aside all other considerations and would do “anything it takes” to reach a solution.

Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges which he denies, said his hands had been tied but a law amended on Thursday to limit the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed gave him more space to manoeuvre.

However, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, in a letter addressed to Netanyahu, disagreed.

“The legal situation is clear: you must refrain from any involvement in initiatives to change the judiciary, including the makeup of the committee for the appointment of judges, as such activity is a conflict of interest,” Baharav-Miara said.

“Your statement last night and any action you take in violation of this matter is illegal and tainted by a conflict of interest.”

The letter followed Baharav-Miara’s earlier warnings that Netanyahu must stay out of his coalition’s push for a judicial overhaul because of what she deemed a conflict of interest arising from his trials.

In a message distributed by the ruling Likud party, an unnamed source close to Netanyahu denied the prime minister violated any laws or conflict of interest agreements in his statement and said it had no repercussions on his personal affairs.

The source said it was incumbent on the premier to try and reach a wide consensus during a time of national crisis that carried implications on the country both domestically and abroad.

Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition has been pursuing changes to the judiciary that would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Court’s power to strike down laws.

Proponents say the plan would rein in Supreme Court overreach and restore balance between the branches of government.

Critics say it would weaken the courts, endanger civil liberties and harm the economy.

The proposed plan has sparked weeks of nationwide protests and drew concern among the country’s Western allies.