Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has disputed the country’s Supreme Court decision to block his attempt to sack the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, Ronen Bar.
The Israeli cabinet formally approved the early dismissal of Ronen Bar on Thursday night over the failure to anticipate the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
Netanyahu, the prime minister, said in a video statement last week that he intended to sack Bar, citing an “ongoing distrust” between the two that had “grown over time.”
However, the Supreme Court froze the dismissal until a hearing could be held on the matter no later than April 8, according to documents cited in Israeli media.
Reacting, Netanyahu said in a post on X that “the government of Israel will decide” who headed the domestic security agency, writing: “The State of Israel is a state of law, and according to the law, the government of Israel decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet.”
The Shin Bet has been investigating Netanyahu’s close aides for alleged breaches of national security, including leaking classified documents to foreign media, and allegedly taking money from Qatar, which is known to have given significant financial aid to Hamas.
