Shin Bet Chief Bar's Dismissal on Hold: Supreme Court Struck Down Israel's Government Decision
Israel's Supreme Court Upholds the Termination of Mossad Director - Israeli High Court halts termination of intelligence head Bar
"No chaos will ensue!", brashly declared Netanyahu via X messaging service. "Israel is a nation bound by law, and according to the law, the government has total discretion over who leads the Shin Bet."
Previously, the Israeli government gave its green light to Netanyahu's plan to boot out Bar. He would vacate his position as the head of the internal security service by no later than April 10, or as soon as a replacement was nominated, as announced by Netanyahu's team in the early hours of Friday.
Facing this announcement, several opposition parties raised concerns, filing a petition with the Supreme Court. They asserted that the government's decision was rooted in an evident "conflict of interest" on Netanyahu's part. It's worth noting that, in the history of Israel, no head of the internal security service has ever been removed from office.
After the Supreme Court's verdict, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara proclaimed that the government was gratuitously barred from eliminating the Shin Bet's chief and nominating a successor. Negotiations regarding the vacant position should be postponed indefinitely.
Justifying his decision, Netanyahu pointed to "unrelenting mistrust" towards Bar. He contended that Bar's removal was essential to rehabilitate the internal security service following its debacle during the extreme Islamic Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.
However, Bar estimated the decision to oust him as politically motivated. In a statement made public on Thursday, he wrote that Netanyahu sought self-preservation and intended to obstruct investigations by the internal security service into the events surrounding October 7 and other significant matters. He mentioned "convoluted, massive, and illicit" inquiries into questionable funds directed from Qatar to Netanyahu's circle. The media has labeled this case "Qatargate."
Tensions between Netanyahu and Bar had long been strained, particularly due to Netanyahu's proposed judicial reform, which sparked months of mass protests in Israel. Critics argue that the government's plans pose a threat to democracy and Israel's rule of law. Netanyahu's proposed judicial reform includes relieving the Supreme Court of its power to invalidate government decisions deemed "illogical," thereby undermining its ability to enforce checks and balances.
The Israeli government is targeting another Netanyahu critic. A special meeting has been called for Sunday with the intention of setting in motion the dismissal of Attorney General Baharav-Miara, citing her "inappropriate actions" and "significant disagreements" between her and the government, according to Netanyahu's office.
Baharav-Miara champions the integrity of the judiciary and serves as Israel's first female Attorney General. She views Netanyahu's proposed judicial reform as "unlawful" and regards his decision to potentially remove Bar as "unprecedented."
Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest the planned dismissals of Bar and Baharav-Miara. Even Israeli President Isaac Herzog has expressed disapproval of the "contentious decisions" by the government, which he believes will fuel the divide in Israel.
Additional Insights
In response to the Supreme Court's ruling, the government has been ordered to halt the dismissal process. A temporary injunction stands until April 8 when the court will hear all ongoing petitions challenging the removal. This allows the government to start the search for Bar's replacement, albeit without moving forward with the confirmation. [1][2] Despite the government's claim that the dismissal decision falls under their exclusive jurisdiction, the court's decision argued that the potential conflict of interest leaves no space for executive decisions. [3]
The standoff between the executive branch and the judiciary has caused significant tension, with some ministers pledging to ignore the court's order while others are committed to respecting it. [3] The move to dismiss Bar has fueled debates about judicial reform, with some government officials calling for revisions to reduce the judiciary's power and grant more authority to the executive branch. [3] The unrest among citizens and opposition parties have culminated in massive protests demanding fairness and adherence to the rule of law. [1]
[1] Haaretz - Israel[2] Times of Israel - Israel[3] Reuters - Israel
- Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the government is compelled to pause the dismissal process of Shin Bet Chief, Ronen Bar, until April 8, when the court will hear all ongoing petitions challenging his removal.
- Despite the government's assertion that the dismissal decision is solely within their jurisdiction, the court's decision maintains that the potential conflict of interest does not allow for executive decisions.
- The standoff between the executive branch and the judiciary has triggered considerable tension, prompting debates about judicial reform and granting more authority to the executive branch while causing massive protests demanding fairness and adherence to the rule of law.
