Israeli President Warns of Civil War due to Overhaul of Judicial System

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has unveiled alternative changes to the judiciary, in response to a planned reform by Israel's far-right coalition that has sparked mass protests in recent weeks, Reuters news agency reported.

One of the main sticking points in the planned overhaul is overhauling the way judges are selected.

The Israeli president's (alternative) plan would see the selection committee include three ministers, the chief justice, two judges, and two civil servants to be agreed upon by both the chief justice and the justice minister.

On Wednesday, the Israeli president warned that Israel was at a turning point, and stressed his involvement in mediation efforts and speaking with "thousands of people" for weeks. "Civil war is a red line, I will not let that happen at any cost or in any way," he added.

Government Secretary Yossi Fox confirmed on Twitter that the coalition does not support the Israeli president's plan. "The president's plan is one-sided and not approved by any member of the coalition," Fox said.