Israeli president warns of "constitutional crisis" over Netanyahu's judicial reforms

Israel's President Isaac Herzog warned of an impending "historic constitutional crisis" in the country over a controversial plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary.

Herzog said in a statement that he has been mediating over the past week between the involved parties, including Netanyahu, Justice Minister Yariv Levin who drew up the plan, and President of the Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut.

"We are in the grips of a profound disagreement that is tearing our nation apart," he noted.

Herzog said that his efforts are focused on "averting a historic constitutional crisis and stopping the continued rift within the nation."

At his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu dismissed the Saturday nationwide rallies, saying that in the elections held in November 2022, "millions of people vote on reforming the judicial system." He said the reforms will be discussed "thoroughly" in a parliamentary review committee, which also includes members from the opposition. "We will complete the reform of legislation in a way that will fully protect individual rights and restore public confidence in the judicial system," he added.