Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a key cabinet ally on Sunday after hearing a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to do so, deepening a rift over the power of the courts.

Netanyahu announced that he had sacked Arye Deri, the former interior and health minister, at a cabinet meeting. Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that Deri could not serve as a minister because he was convicted of tax offenses last year.

The court’s decision comes at a time when Israel is embroiled in a dispute over the power of the judiciary. The far-right Netanyahu government wants to weaken the Supreme Court, limit judicial oversight and give more power to politicians. Critics say the move upends the country’s accountability system and threatens Israel’s democratic foundations.

According to his office, Netanyahu told Deri that he removed him from his post with “a heavy heart and great sadness.”

“This unfortunate decision ignores the will of the people,” Netanyahu said to Deri. “I intend to find any legal way for you to continue to contribute to the State of Israel.”

Derry said he would continue to lead his party and help the government advance its agenda, including legal reform.

Derry’s dismissal is expected to shake Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, an alliance backed by ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, including Derry’s Shas, which is the third largest in government. While some Shas MPs have threatened to withdraw from the nascent coalition following the court’s decision, the coalition is expected to survive and attempt to develop legislation that will pave the way for Derry’s quick return.

Netanyahu is expected to appoint other members of Shas to replace Deri, at least temporarily.

The most right-wing government in Israel’s history, Netanyahu’s government has made reforming the country’s judiciary a centerpiece of its agenda. He says the imbalance of power has given judges and government legal advisers too much influence over legislation and administration.

The plan drew sharp criticism from leading lawyers, the Chief Justice, former lawmakers and tens of thousands of Israelis who took to the streets repeatedly to protest the overhaul.

Derry has been in trouble with the law in the past. He was sentenced to three years in prison for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 2000 while serving as interior minister in 1990. He served 22 months in prison but returned to politics and took over the reins of Shas in 2013 .

Source: Associated Press.