Overview

• Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar submitted an affidavit to Israel's Supreme Court accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of demanding personal loyalty and ordering surveillance of anti-government protesters.
• Bar claims Netanyahu sought to prioritize his authority over the courts during potential constitutional crises and attempted to obstruct testimony in his ongoing corruption trial.
• Netanyahu’s office has denied the allegations, calling the affidavit false, while the Supreme Court has halted Bar’s dismissal pending further deliberations.
• The controversy is linked to Shin Bet investigations into leaked military documents, alleged financial ties between Netanyahu aides and Qatar, and the agency’s failures in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
• Mass protests have erupted over the perceived politicization of Israel's intelligence services, fueling broader concerns about threats to democratic norms and institutional independence.