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Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
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Atef Safadi / AP
According to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not participate in the controversial restructuring of the judiciary due to a "possible conflict of interest".
In a letter to Netanyahu published in Israeli media, Baharav-Miara wrote that Netanyahu must avoid “interfering with initiatives related to the legal system”.
Accordingly, Netanyahu could benefit from the recently presented plans in a corruption process currently ongoing against him.
Any involvement of Netanyahu in the government's project is therefore not permissible, the letter said.
This also includes "direct or indirect instructions" to other people who are involved in advancing the proposals.
Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and corruption.
He has always denied the allegations and spoke of a "witch hunt".
He told US broadcaster CNN on Wednesday that the government's plans had nothing to do with his trial.
Netanyahu's government plans far-reaching reforms in the judicial system.
A majority in parliament should therefore be able to pass a law even if the Supreme Court considers it to be in violation of the Basic Law.
Attorney General Levin also wants to change the composition of the panel that appoints judges.
He accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions.
Tens of thousands of people in Israel have been taking to the streets against the government's plan for weeks.
sol/dpa