Shin Bet Chief’s Dismissal Put on Hold by High Court of Justice

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Friday issued an injunction freezing the government’s decision to dismiss Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar, pending a hearing on the legality of the move. The court’s ruling followed a petition submitted by opposition parties Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu, and The Democrats, who argued against the sudden removal of Bar.

On Thursday, the Israeli cabinet unanimously voted to terminate Bar’s tenure after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put forward the proposal. The dismissal sparked immediate controversy, coming amid a Shin Bet investigation into Netanyahu aides allegedly implicated in the unfolding Qatargate affair.

In leaked recordings from the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu defended his decision, criticizing Bar for publicly expressing his stance on the inquiry process into the security failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas massacre. “He should tell me this in private and not drag the organization into political matters,” Netanyahu reportedly stated.

The prime minister further emphasized the issue of professional trust: “I need to look him in the eyes and trust him professionally and personally without hesitation when approving sensitive operations.”

However, Netanyahu signaled defiance regarding the court’s intervention, remarking, “Can anyone imagine that we would continue working without trust because of a court order? That cannot happen, and it will not happen.”

The controversy over Bar’s dismissal underscores deepening tensions within Israel’s political and security establishments during a critical period of ongoing conflict with Hamas and heightened internal scrutiny.

The High Court’s decision ensures Bar will remain in his post until the hearing is conducted, setting up a significant legal and political confrontation in the weeks ahead.

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