Israel’s High Court has frozen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss the head of the internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.

According to Israeli media, the High Court has suspended the government’s decision to remove the Shin Bet Director from office. The Court announced that a hearing on the matter would take place by April 8 at the latest for the consideration of appeal petitions. Outcry against this decision by the High Court has been particularly strong from the extreme right-wing figures in Netanyahu’s government.

CALLS FROM RIGHT-WING MINISTERS
In response to Israel breaching the ceasefire and launching attacks on Gaza again, and with the dismissal of the Shin Bet Director, the extreme right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who returned to the government, called for the resumption of the judicial reform that limited the powers of the judiciary in Netanyahu’s government. Ben-Gvir shared on social media, “Let’s start the judicial reform immediately.” Similarly, extreme right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated, “The High Court will not lead the war, will not choose the commanders, period.”

“THIS GOVERNMENT’S DECISION, YOUR ORDER IS INVALID”
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi stated, “Mr. Judge, Bar’s term is supposed to end on April 10, or earlier if replaced by someone else. You have no legal authority to intervene in this matter. This is within the government’s jurisdiction, your order is invalid. Here we talk about the sovereignty of the people.” Protests continue in the country against Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss the Shin Bet Director, who was investigating files allegedly involving close advisers to Netanyahu. Particularly over the weekend, large-scale protests against the Netanyahu government’s decision to resume attacks on Gaza and dismissing the Shin Bet Director are expected to take place across the country.

NETANYAHU’S DECISION ON SHIN BET
The Israeli government had approved the dismissal of the internal intelligence agency Shin Bet’s Director Ronen Bar late at night. It was reported that Bar’s term would end on April 10 or with the appointment of a new Shin Bet Director. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu justified the decision to dismiss Shin Bet Director Bar citing “persistent and growing distrust” over time. Bar, in turn, accused Netanyahu of acting “personally.” Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had stated that the Prime Minister cannot dismiss the Shin Bet Director “arbitrarily.”