Herzog, whose office is primarily ceremonial and representative, warns that a “barrel of explosives” is about to explode in an already divided country.
— I feel, we all feel, that we are in the moment before a collision, quite a violent collision, says the president in a televised speech on Sunday.
The call to the prime minister comes the evening before parts of the controversial legislation are expected to be taken up in parliament.
Netanyahu’s new far-right government wants to change the judicial system to, among other things, give politicians in the Knesset significant power over Israel’s highest court.
The reforms have been met with strong popular protests, with large demonstrations around the country six Saturdays in a row.
The critics fear that the plans risk damaging the country’s balance of power and democracy at its core. Some also see it as a way for the corruption suspect Netanyahu to avoid justice himself.
A new demonstration is planned outside parliament on Monday.