The state of Israel was rocked by massive demonstrations last year over plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reform its Supreme Court.

While the controversy subsided when Hamas attacked this past October, it may heat up again now that Acting Court President Justice Uzi Vogelman has rejected a government proposal. 

Justice minister wants conservative to head high court

According to The Times of Israel, Vogelman's move came after Justice Minister Yariv Levin suggested that he could temporarily appoint conservative Justice Yosef Elron as court president.

Under Levin's plan, Elron would serve in the position for a year, after which liberal Justice Isaac Amit would ascend to the position.

The Times noted that Levin has spent roughly a year blocking Amit's promotion, who under seniority rules should have risen following the retirement of former Court President Esther Hayut.

Although Vogelman is more senior than Amit, he refused to permanently take on the role of court president as he plans to retire in October.

Vogelman says Levin "is harming the proper functioning of the justice system"

The Times explained that Levin's offer came even as he faces petitions to the High Court of Justice stemming from his refusal to convene the Judicial Selection Committee, which would vote on a new court president.

The newspaper added that any vote by the committee is unlikely to go well for Levin as a majority of its members support promoting Amit.

"During these difficult and trying times for the country and its citizenry, [your] conduct is harming the proper functioning of the justice system," Vogelman was quoted as saying to Levin.

"In this sense, an offer based on nullifying the seniority method does not represent any progress," the acting court president went on to allege.

In addition to wanting Elron appointed as court president, Levin would also like to appoint three new justices to the 15-member Supreme Court.

Supreme Court ruling on ultra-Orthodox draft sparks outrage

In addition to its ongoing fight with the government, Israel's Supreme Court also drew attention in late June after it ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men can be drafted into the military.

Fox News reported that the decision sparked outrage and led to clashes between police and crowds of ultra-Orthodox men in central Jerusalem.

The network pointed out that while both men and women are regularly drafted in Israel, ultra-Orthodox Israeli has thus far been allowed to study in religious seminaries rather than don a uniform.