Israeli media reported today that the judges for Israel Prize resigned in protest after a recent posting on Netanyahu's Facebook page that claimed the committee is controlled by judges with "extremist views" on the far left.
Netanyahu also said the panel needs to reflect the wider public. The prime minister has since been instructed by the attorney general not to "intervene" in the prize.
Netanyahu's remarks may have been an attempt to appeal to far-right voters ahead of March 17 parliamentary elections.