Geneva: The proposed overhaul of Israel's judicial system has raised concerns from the UN's human rights chief, who fears that it will "dramatically undermine" the judiciary's ability to uphold human rights and the rule of law.

The religious-nationalist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing through changes in Israel's parliament that they claim are necessary to tame activist judges who get involved in politics.

The proposals, which have sparked widespread protests, could give the government more influence over selecting judges and restrict the Supreme Court's ability to overturn laws.

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"Breaking from decades of established practise, such a law would severely impair the judiciary's capacity to uphold the rule of law as an effective institutional check on government,"

He also said that the modifications would increase political influence over the judicial selection process.

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Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded to Turk's remarks by saying, "We will not accept moral preaching from those who ignore blatant human rights violations in Syria, Iran, the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza and attack Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, more than any other nation.

Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, claimed that Turk's prior statement displayed prejudice.

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Austria's Turk, who took over as High Commissioner in October, urged Israel earlier this month to uphold international human rights law after his office counted a record-breaking 151 Palestinians killed by security forces in 2017.