Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed to ensure the Supreme Court's judicial independence, as he congratulated the incoming 10th Chief Justice Asher Grunis who replaced Dorit Beinish.

"You have all the needed qualities to lead the justice system at this important juncture, and I promise to grant you all the help that you will need," Netanyahu told Grunis at the inauguration, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Wishing Grunis success in "kindling the flame of democracy," Netanyahu said that "Israel's Supreme Court will continue serving as a beacon of freedom."

Beinish, considered as a liberal in her judgments, praised Grunis, largely held as hewing to more conservative rulings, as "a justice from head to toe, who is untainted by outside influences" in his decisions.

"For five and a half years you have proudly headed the State of Israel's judicial branch," Netanyahu told Beinish.

"It wasn't an easy period, during which the justice system came under attack more than once. These attacks were unsuccessful," he added, referring to sharp criticism from the right on many of the court's rulings.

Beinish said that "judges come and judges go, but this establishment is stronger than its individual parts."

Netanyahu's opponents, however, slammed his remarks about the court's juridical freedom.

"Netanyahu's representatives in the Knesset (parliament) were the ones who sought to sabotage and weaken the Supreme Court," said Shaul Mofaz of the opposition Kadima Party, who chairs the parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee.