Overview

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government dismissed Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, citing a 'lack of trust,' marking the first such removal in Israeli history.
• The Israeli Supreme Court has issued a temporary injunction against Bar's dismissal, with a hearing scheduled by April 8 to review the decision.
• Critics allege the dismissal is politically motivated to impede Shin Bet investigations into alleged ties between Netanyahu's associates and Qatar, dubbed 'Katargate.'
• Mass protests have erupted across Israel, with demonstrators accusing Netanyahu of undermining democratic norms and consolidating power over state institutions.
• President Isaac Herzog has expressed grave concerns, warning that the government's actions risk deepening national divisions and eroding public trust.