"You are harming the public's trust in the judicial system and democracy," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni accused Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann on Sunday.
Livni leveled criticism at Friedmann during a meeting of Kadima ministers who gathered to hear explanations from the justice minister about his feud with Supreme Court President Justice Dorit Beinish.
"Trust in the justice system is declining and this is harming the democratic process," Livni told Friedmann as she urged him to hold "calm" talks with Beinish.
Friedmann fired back, accusing Supreme Court justices of using the media to promote as "harmful" a number of judicial reforms he planned to implement.
Beinish sent Friedmann a letter last week saying his reforms were "dangerous" to the judicial system.
Beinish said plans to appoint special committees to recommend candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency of the courts were aimed at weakening her status.
Under the current system, the president of the Supreme Court selects candidates in consultation with other justices before seeking the approval of the justice minister.