JERUSALEM: Israel’s attorney general accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday 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 had said on Thursday he was putting aside all other considerations and would do “anything it takes” to reach a solution.

The letter from Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara added to the headwinds facing the plans, which have caused a deep split in Israeli society, bringing tens of thousands of protesters to the streets.

The protests followed Netanayhu to London on Friday, where he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Protests follow Israeli PM to London, where he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Hundreds of people stood outside 10 Downing Street waving Israeli flags and banging drums. Some could be heard shouting “Netanyahu go to jail, you can’t speak for Israel”.

Broadcasters had expected to be able to film the start of the meeting between Sunak and Netanyahu, but that appeared to have been cancelled.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that following Netanyahu’s Thursday speech, about 200 elite reservist air force pilots said they were suspending their service due to the planned legislation, escalating protests from within the military.

On Thursday, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) amended a law to limit the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed from office, but Baharav-Miara said Netanyahu had to stay out of the judicial overhaul package, which has been handled by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

“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.

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 trial.

AG faces criticism

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the attorney-general, appointed by the former centre-right government, of acting as de facto head of the opposition.

“If Ms Baharav-Miara wants to make decisions on behalf of elected officials, she is welcome to form a party and run for parliament,” he wrote on Twitter.

Following the attorney-general’s letter, the watchdog group Movement for Quality Government in Israel said it would file a motion for contempt of court and demand that Netanyahu be subjected to sanctions as stipulated by law, including heavy fines and imprisonment.

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.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2023