Israel's attorney general today called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abide by the law.

He defined Netanyahu's public statement about the divisive project to reform the judicial system as illegal, given the ongoing trials against him for corruption, France Press reported, quoted by BTA.

Israel's Supreme Court previously barred the prime minister from interfering with the government's plans for judicial reform because of a conflict of interest, AP recalls.

"Your statement yesterday and any interference in (the reform adoption process) is illegal," Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara told Benjamin Netanyahu in a letter published by the Justice Ministry.

Last night Israel's prime minister vowed last night to "end the division among the people" after nearly three months of mass demonstrations against the judicial reform bill currently being debated in parliament.

Netanyahu, who has so far refrained from commenting on the issue, announced that he was "taking the stage" and that he was determined to push through the reform, but that he would do everything possible to "reach a solution" acceptable to both the project's supporters and and for his opponents.

Netanyahu was greeted by protesters before the meeting with the British Prime Minister in London

"You should avoid any involvement in changes to the judicial system, and more specifically in the process of appointing judges, because this puts you in a situation of conflict of interest," wrote Baharav-Miara.

Netanyahu announced last night that the bill, which changes the composition of the commission for the appointment of judges, will be submitted for a vote in parliament in the plenary session "next week".

This is one of the central elements of the reform and is at the heart of the concerns of its opponents.

The text was amended to soften its content with a view to achieving wider support in the vote, but did not gain the support of the opposition, which turned a deaf ear to the call for dialogue made last night by the prime minister, who continued to demand a pause in legislative work on the reform before any negotiations with the ruling majority, notes AFP.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Conflict of interests

judicial reform