In the midst of the reactivation of the War in Gaza, Israel is experiencing a severe political, legal, and social crisis involving the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the internal security service, and the judiciary.
On Thursday night, the cabinet unanimously approved Netanyahu’s motion to dismiss Ronen Bar, head of the internal security service, or Shin Bet.
However, the Supreme Court of Israel intervened on Friday and ordered the temporary suspension of Bar’s dismissal until her appeal can be examined.
The highest court said that it set a deadline of April 8 to hear the appeal. Netanyahu’s office had said that Bar’s dismissal would take effect on April 10, but it could happen earlier if a replacement was found.
Why are the government of Israel and the judiciary at odds?
Netanyahu’s announcement that he would seek to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet came as the security service investigates the links between Netanyahu’s advisors and Qatar.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who the government has also tried to remove, stated on Sunday that Netanyahu needs to clarify the legal basis for his decision before taking any action, pointing out that “the role of the Shin Bet is not to serve the personal trust of the prime minister.”
Netanyahu then responded with a warning letter to the Israeli Attorney General, stating that she does not have the authority to intervene in the matter. The dispute raises growing concerns about the balance of powers in the Israeli government.
After the Supreme Court order, Attorney General Baharav-Miara ordered the Prime Minister not to appoint a new head of the Shin Bet, or even conduct interviews for the position.
The conflict could turn into a social crisis, as according to Times of Israel, the main Israeli labor union and business forum threatened a national strike if the government did not comply with the court order.
What was Netanyahu’s response?
Through the social network X, the Prime Minister of Israel defied the Attorney General’s order and said that “the State of Israel is a state of law and, according to the law, it is the Israeli government that decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet.”
Additionally, Netanyahu stated that Israel is not at risk of a “civil war,” in response to the words of respected former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak, who expressed his fear that the country is on the path to a strong conflict due to the government’s attempts to remove Bar and also prosecutor Baharav-Miara.