On Thursday, the former Israeli prime minister advised other global leaders to steer clear of Benjamin Netanyahu as he moves on with his proposal to reform the judicial system. The US and Germany, two of Israel's closest friends, cautioned Netanyahu to be cautious.
The extraordinary calls for moderation and international involvement came as tens of thousands of Israelis were once more protesting Netanyahu's proposal in the streets.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who held the position from 2006 to 2009, advised other world leaders not to schedule meetings with Netanyahu. He addressed Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister who was going to receive Benjamin Netanyahu soon.
Olmert asked the leaders of the nations with whom Israel has good ties to forgo meetings with the Israeli prime minister.
He recognised that, as a former Israeli prime minister, his appeal was "quite extraordinary," but he went on to say that, given the circumstances, it was essential. "I feel the present Israeli administration is absolutely anti-Israeli," Olmert said.
He specifically criticised the ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist factions that make up Netanyahu's far-right administration, which opposes Palestinian independence and encourages more settlement construction in Palestinian-claimed occupied land.
The members of Netanyahu's current coalition have a lengthy history of making remarks that are offensive to Palestinians, minorities, women, and LGBTQ persons. Also, they are closely connected to the West Bank settlement movement.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, had already been found guilty of supporting terrorist groups and inciting hatred. Netanyahu's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, allegedly sought the "erasure" of a Palestinian hamlet in the occupied West Bank, although he later apologised in response to a public outrage.
An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by a Netanyahu spokesperson.
Netanyahu and his supporters are already implementing a plan to weaken Israel's Supreme Court and give his parliamentary coalition control over judicial appointments.
According to Netanyahu, the law will eliminate an imbalance that has given Israel's courts excessive power. The country's system of checks and balances, according to critics, would be weakened by the revisions, and the prime minister will be given excessive power. They further claim that Netanyahu, who is suspected of corruption, could be able to evade punishment if the legal system is changed.