RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas assured senior judges that legal amendments will not be made without consultation with the Supreme Judicial Council, the council said Sunday.

The council representatives asked Abbas to dismiss the Minister of Justice, who has championed a judicial reform proposal that outraged the Judicial Council, arguing they should have been consulted.

The proposal includes giving minister Ali Muhanna the duties of the Attorney-General, after the last office-holder stood down in August.

A delegation of the Supreme Judicial Council complained to Abbas about what it described as a media campaign against the judiciary, describing Muhanna's handling of the matter as offensive.

Abbas assured the delegates he believes "the dignity of the judicial authorities is integral to the dignity of the state," according to the council statement.