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4w ago

Israel's Supreme Court to Review Netanyahu's Firing of Shin Bet Chief

The court will evaluate whether Prime Minister Netanyahu acted lawfully in dismissing Ronen Bar, amid allegations of political interference tied to the Qatargate scandal.

Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit and fellow Israeli Supreme Court judges preside over a hearing on the government's dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, Ronen Bar, at the high court in Jerusalem April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks, at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, May 13, 2024. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on June 5, 2024. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Overview

  • The Israeli Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the legality of Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, following a temporary injunction blocking the move.
  • Netanyahu claims Bar was dismissed due to security failures, including Shin Bet's inability to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Israel's deadliest single day.
  • Critics argue the dismissal was politically motivated, linked to an investigation into alleged ties between Netanyahu's aides and Qatar, known as the Qatargate scandal.
  • Ronen Bar has stated his removal was not based on professional grounds and reflects a prioritization of political loyalty to Netanyahu over institutional integrity.
  • The controversy has intensified anti-government protests, with demonstrators accusing Netanyahu of undermining Israel's state institutions and democratic principles.