The Israeli Supreme Court temporarily blocked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar as the head of Shin Bet, the nation’s internal intelligence service, pending the outcome of his appeal.
This judicial decision faced criticism from several senior members of the Israeli government, with some urging the administration to disregard it.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, from Netanyahu’s Likud party, stated, “Ronen Bar’s term will conclude on April 10 or once a successor is appointed,” asserting that the judiciary lacks the authority to intervene and deeming the court’s decision “invalid.”
The Israeli Business Forum, representing leaders of approximately 200 major companies in the country, warned they would initiate a strike if the government disregards the court’s verdict. In their statement, they indicated that failure to comply might lead to a constitutional crisis, encouraging the public to stop following government directives, which would severely impact the economy.
Likewise, the Israeli High-Tech Headquarters, which comprises numerous prominent companies in the industry, pledged to join the strike should the Supreme Court’s ruling be ignored, emphasizing that failing to respect the court’s authority would degrade Israel’s status and deter foreign investment.
In addition, 40 municipal leaders, including the mayors of Tel Aviv and Haifa, expressed their intention to support the judiciary if the government fails to honor the Supreme Court’s decision. They urged the Prime Minister to publicly state the government’s compliance with the ruling.
Netanyahu responded to the backlash by asserting on his X account that Israel functions under the rule of law and emphasized that it is the government’s prerogative to select the head of Shin Bet, dismissing fears of civil unrest. Mass protests have erupted against the government since the publicly announced plan to remove Bar, following allegations involving some of Netanyahu’s aides relating to financial ties with Qatar.
