Dismissed Shin Bet chief blames Netanyahu

The head of Israel's internal security services, dismissed by Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty, in a written statement sworn before the Supreme Court.

This is the latest episode in the legal-political saga pitting Netanyahu against Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, whose announced dismissal by the government has sparked an outcry among much of the Israeli public and triggered mass protests. His removal is contested notably by the opposition, which sees it as a sign of an autocratic drift in power, and by the state attorney general.

The Israeli Supreme Court called on April 8 for the government and the attorney general to find a compromise regarding this dismissal after the Jewish Passover, which has just ended.

Bar could resign soon, according to media reports, thereby ending this legal-political saga.

The document submitted Monday by Bar contains several accusations against Netanyahu, stating in particular that the latter had demanded personal loyalty from him. “It was clear” that, in the case of a constitutional crisis, he was to obey Netanyahu and not the Supreme Court, he writes in the document, released by the attorney general's office. Bar also indicates that Netanyahu told him “more than once” that he expected his services to act against Israeli citizens involved in protests against the government, “with particular emphasis on monitoring the protest funders.” He also confirms media reports that Netanyahu sought to obtain his signature to delay the prime minister's testimony in his corruption trial.

On April 9, the Supreme Court confirmed in a ruling its initial decision to suspend the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief, after reviewing the five appeals it had received. Bar “will continue to perform his duties until a further decision,” the Court decided, allowing the government to interview candidates for his succession but prohibiting any “announcement of appointment.”