Shafaq News / Israel’s Supreme Court issued an injunction on Fridaypreventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from dismissing Shin Bet chiefRonen Bar, pending a hearing on the matter by April 8.
The ruling came after Netanyahu’s cabinet formally approved Bar’s earlydismissal on Thursday night, citing failures leading up to Hamas' October 7,2023, attack on Israel. Netanyahu had announced his intention to remove Bar lastweek, saying in a video statement that their "ongoing distrust" had"grown over time."
Bar, who was appointed in October 2021 for a five-year term as head ofIsrael's domestic intelligence agency, would be the first Shin Bet director inhistory to be dismissed by the government.
His removal has sparked backlash, fueling mass demonstrations inJerusalem, where more than 40,000 Israelis protested against both Netanyahu’sdecision and Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza.
A letter from Netanyahu to cabinet members before Thursday's votereferenced a "persistent loss of professional and personal trust"with Bar, proposing his term end on April 20. The letter claimed trust haddeteriorated further during the war, beyond the operational failures of October7.
Bar has pushed back, calling the decision politically motivated. In aletter to the government, he argued that his dismissal was "steeped inextraneous considerations and a personal and institutional conflict ofinterest." He warned that removing him at this time could jeopardizenational security and undermine an ongoing investigation into the eventssurrounding the October 7 attack.
Bar also claimed that since the war began, Netanyahu had barred him fromprivate meetings with cabinet ministers—an order he suggested was illegal,alleging that Netanyahu’s decision to remove him from hostage negotiations inGaza had harmed efforts to secure the release of captives.
Under the cabinet's decision, Bar’s term is set to end on April 10 orwhen a successor is appointed, whichever comes first. However, with the SupremeCourt’s injunction in place, Netanyahu must now decide whether to comply withthe ruling. His critics argue he may seek to override the decision.
The dispute over Bar’s dismissal comes as Israel resumes its militaryoffensive in Gaza following the collapse of a months-long ceasefire. TheHamas-run health ministry says more than 48,500 Palestinians have been killedin the conflict.
More than 400 people were reportedly killed on the first night ofrenewed airstrikes earlier this week.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over extending the ceasefirestalled six weeks ago. Hamas had proposed releasing an American hostage andfour bodies, but Israel rejected the offer and has since tightened restrictionson food, fuel, and medical supplies entering Gaza.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Israel's Supreme Court blocks Netanyahu's dismissal of Shin Bet Chief )
Also on site :
- Bodies of two Israeli-American hostages recovered from Gaza in joint military operation
- Two Chinese aircraft carriers seen in Pacific for first time, Japan says
- Trailblazing Oscar Winner, 59, Turns Heads on Tribeca Film Festival Red Carpet