Herzog reportedly asked AG to let Netanyahu take part in judicial reform dialogue

President Isaac Herzog asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to permit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take part in proposed compromised talks on the government’s plans to radically shake up the judiciary, according to the Haaretz daily.

The newspaper says Baharav-Miara told Herzog that Netanyahu cannot be involved, due to a conflict of interest arrangement barring him from involvement in matters that could impact his ongoing trial on graft charges, such as the planned overhaul of the judiciary.

Herzog proposed the talks as part of his effort to promote a dialogue on judicial reform, with the opposing sides of the debate deeply at odds regarding the contentious changes to the judicial system that the coalition is pushing.

Earlier this week, Hebrew media widely reported that Netanyahu’s lawyers sought permission from Baharav-Miara for Netanyahu to make public statements about the judicial overhaul plan, but were rebuffed.