Israel’s top court has suspended the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, escalating tensions within the government.
Israel’s Supreme Court has frozen the government’s dismissal of Ronen Bar, head of the country’s internal security service, prompting backlash from senior officials, including the prime minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had dismissed Bar, claiming he failed to anticipate the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Bar served as the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. Tensions between Bar and Netanyahu had been escalating over a corruption investigation involving allegations that aides in the prime minister’s office were offered bribes by individuals linked to Qatar. Bar described his dismissal as politically motivated.
The Supreme Court announced that petitions would be scheduled for a hearing before a panel of judges by April 8 at the latest. In the meantime, it issued an order “suspending the effect of the decision.”
Several ministers quickly condemned the court’s intervention. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on social media that High Court judges will not conduct the war or determine its commanders.
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