The government’s decision to fire domestic security chief Ronen Bar was declared unlawful by Israel’s Supreme Court, which is the most recent twist in a tense power struggle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration and the country’s judiciary.
The government’s decision to oust the Shin Bet’s head was made through an improper and unlawful process, the top court said on Wednesday in its decision.
Additionally, it stated that Netanyahu’s desire to get Bar fired was in conflict with the Shin Bet’s investigation into alleged ties between the prime minister’s aides and Qatar.
The Hamas-led October 7 attack, which the two men have co-sponsored, has sparked heated exchanges of accusations and barbs.
Netanyahu stated at the beginning that he would fire Bar because of a “trust breakdown,” implying that it was connected to the Gaza war that followed. However, Bar claimed that a number of events occurred between November 2024 and February 2025 that led to Netanyahu’s choice.
Bar claimed in the unclassified portion of the court submission that Netanyahu had “on more than one occasion” promised to investigate Israelis involved in anti-government demonstrations, with a particular emphasis on tracking down the protesters’ financial backers.
The Shin Bet head added that he had also refrained from signing a security request to prevent Netanyahu from giving evidence in a continuing corruption trial where he is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
According to a report from the Times of Israel, the court stated that Bar’s dismissal was based on “a factual basis” and did not require a formal hearing before firing him.
In addition to “a disregard for fundamental principles regarding internal security,” Bar was fired in the ruling on Wednesday, which also included “irregularities” in the process that led to Bar’s dismissal.
In March, the far-right government launched a wave of protests and accusations of autocratic behavior after the cabinet voted to remove Bar.
The High Court of Justice halted the appeal until a hearing was held. Numerous organizations, including opposition politicians, had filed petitions with the court challenging the government’s decision.
A day after Bar announced his resignation, the government reversed his decision in April.
Source: Aljazeera
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