The conflict inside Netanyahu's government continues. Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel’s internal security chief as power struggle boils over https://apnews.com/article/israel-shin-bet-netanyahu-security-c33f6e2f9ace753e36cde694207ebae6 JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will seek to dismiss the head of the internal security service this week, deepening a power struggle focused largely on who bears responsibility for the Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. Netanyahu’s effort to remove Ronen Bar as director of the Shin Bet comes as the security service investigates close aides of the prime minister. Netanyahu said he has had “ongoing distrust” with Bar, and “this distrust has grown over time.” Bar responded by saying he planned to continue in the post for the near future, citing “personal obligations” to finish “sensitive investigations,” free the remaining hostages in Gaza and prepare potential successors. Bar also criticized Netanyahu’s expectation of a personal loyalty that contradicts the public interest. But he emphasized that he would respect any legal decision regarding his tenure. Attorney general says Netanyahu must explain legal basis for his decision Israel’s attorney general said Netanyahu must clarify the legal basis for his decision before taking any action. The Shin Bet is responsible for monitoring Palestinian militant groups, and recently issued a report accepting responsibility for its failures around the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. It also criticized Netanyahu, saying failed government policies helped create the climate that led to it. While the army concluded in a recent report that it underestimated Hamas’ capabilities, Shin Bet said it had a “deep understanding of the threat.” In veiled criticism of the government, the agency said its attempts to thwart the threat were not implemented. “The investigation reveals a long and deliberate disregard from the political leadership from the organization’s warnings,” Bar’s statement said. Deflecting blame for the Oct. 7 attack Netanyahu has resisted calls for an official state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack and has tried to blame the failures on the army and security agencies. In recent months, a number of senior security officials, including a defense minister and army chief, have been fired or forced to step down. Bar has been one of the few senior security officials since the Oct. 7 attack to remain in office. If successful in removing him, Netanyahu would be expected to appoint a loyalist in his place, slowing any momentum for the commission of inquiry. The prime minister said removing him would help Israel “achieve its war goals and prevent the next disaster.” Netanyahu’s proposed resolution for Bar’s dismissal would need the approval of parliament, the Knesset, and it is likely he has support to pass it. However, a personnel decision of this magnitude must get the attorney general’s approval, said Amichai Cohen, a senior research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank. In her letter to Netanyahu warning he could not go ahead without clarification, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara added that he should “pay attention to the fact that the role of the Shin Bet is not to serve the personal trust of the prime minister,” according to a statement from her office. The two have a combative relationship, with the prime minister accusing Baharav-Miara of meddling in government decisions. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, one of Netanyahu’s biggest supporters, initiated the process of firing her. Cohen also called Netanyahu’s decision “very problematic.” He said it illustrates the conflict of interest regarding the Shin Bet findings around the Oct. 7 attack and the agency’s investigations into connections between the prime minister’s office and Qatar, a mediator in talks on the war in Gaza. Netanyahu is angry that the Shin Bet is investigating members of his staff for their dealings with Qatar. Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu’s former spokesperson, was reported by Israel’s Channel 12 to have worked for a Doha-based firm that recruited Israeli journalists to write pro-Qatar stories. Israel’s left-leaning daily, Haaretz, has reported that two other Netanyahu staffers, Jonatan Urich and Yisrael Einhorn, allegedly built a campaign to bolster Qatar’s image ahead of the 2022 World Cup there. The Shin Bet, and Bar, have been closely involved with the Gaza hostage negotiations. Netanyahu recently removed Bar from the negotiating team and replaced him with a loyalist, Cabinet minister Ron Dermer. Israeli media have reported on policy differences between the negotiators, who have pushed for a hostage deal, and Netanyahu, who threatens to resume the war. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good-governance civil society group, called Netanyahu’s announcement a “declaration of war on the rule of law” and claimed that he does not have the authority to take the step against Bar because of the investigations into his office. The group’s chair, Eliad Shraga, called the announcement unlawful and “an extreme example of conflict of interest.” Opposition leader calls plans to dismiss Bar ‘shameful’ Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he would appeal Bar’s dismissal, calling the resolution “shameful” and politically motivated. Since Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges in 2019, he has claimed to be the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy by the media, judiciary and other unelected civil servants. He launched a plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system in early 2023, sparking months of street protests by demonstrators who accused him of trying to weaken the country’s system of checks and balances. Israeli media have said Bar was among top security officials warning ahead of the Oct. 7 attack that the strife was sending an image of weakness to Israel’s enemies.
Some follow-up... Netanyahu Cabinet Fires Shin Bet Boss, Defying Protests, AP Says https://finance.yahoo.com/news/netanyahu-cabinet-set-fire-shin-195456328.html (Bloomberg) -- Israel’s cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to fire the country’s domestic intelligence chief, multiple news organizations reported early Friday, a decision that defied thousands of protesters who rallied against his removal and those of other security and judicial officials. On Sunday, Netanyahu said he planned to oust Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, whom he’s often clashed with since the start of Israel’s multi-front conflict in October 2023. The prime minister cited a “lack of confidence” in Bar, who’s been in the role since 2021. The government resolution brought to a vote in the cabinet said Bar had a “misunderstanding of the subordination of the service and its head to the political echelon.” More than 100,000 people gathered in Jerusalem over the past two days to contest what they see as an attempt by the government to dilute checks and balances on its actions. Demonstrations — the largest since the start of the war — turned violent on Thursday, with police and protesters clashing. The government vote came days after a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke down. Israel began airstrikes across Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry said killed hundreds of people, and sent in a limited number of troops. Israel said it was necessary to put pressure on the group — designated a terrorist organization by the US and others — to release hostages. Israeli financial assets have come under pressure in the past month as the talks between Israel and Hamas have broken down, and with tension rising between Netanyahu’s government and key institutions. The shekel has lost 3.6% against the dollar, one of the worst performances globally. Netanyahu and Bar quarreled over responsibility for the failure to foresee Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023 — which triggered the conflict — hostage negotiations and a probe into Israeli officials’ links to Qatar. Under Bar, Shin Bet started an investigation into allegations that aides to Netanyahu were working with the Gulf state of Qatar to bolster its image, possibly risking state secrets. Netanyahu’s office has rebuffed the accusations. Bar boycotted the cabinet meeting, issuing a statement on Thursday saying that the resolution calling for his ouster was based on “unfounded claims that are nothing more than a cover” for “personal interests” in preventing Shin Bet from pursuing valid investigations. Efforts to fire him escalated the clash between Israel’s government and institutions. In 2023, before Hamas’ attack, government plans to reduce the power of the courts set off months of mass protests and led to widespread anger against Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. He eventually backed away from implementing the entire judicial overhaul. Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss Bar drew criticism from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who cited a conflict of interest in the move given the intelligence officer’s investigation into his close aides. Baharav-Miara is herself in the process of being impeached by the government for being “too confrontational” about its policies. The Qatar investigation sparked outrage in the prime minister’s office, which called it “fake news.” Netanyahu’s opponents accuse him of firing Bar to threaten law enforcement agencies. The premier says the opposite is true and that the investigation was launched to stop him from firing Bar. A survey published earlier this week by Israeli television station N12 showed 51% of the respondents believed that the prime minister was ousting Bar for personal reasons. “The takeover of the police, security forces, and law enforcement agencies has been used by leaders around the world to weaken democracy,” Suzie Navot, vice president of research at the Israel Democracy Institute said. “The red flags could not be bigger.” Last year, Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who criticized Netanyahu for failing to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas last summer and placing the lives of hostages at risk. He also promoted the conscription of Jewish Orthodox men to the military, upsetting some of Netanyahu’s coalition partners. On Wednesday, Netanyahu accused “Deep State forces” of trying to undermine him. “In America and in Israel, when a strong right wing leader wins an election, the leftist deep state weaponizes the justice system to thwart the people’s will,” he said on X, echoing a favorite theme of US President Donald Trump, his close ally. “They won’t win in either place!” Netanyahu is soon expected to start the impeachment procedure of Baharav-Miara, the attorney general. He is barred from discussing her dismissal as he undergoes a corruption trial. The Supreme Court may have the ultimate say over her and Bar. Israel’s parliament plans to vote on a bill next week that will change the composition of the Judge Selection Committee, giving the executive more power over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. “For the time being, courts are still there to make sure of the proper manning of top positions,” says Gayil Talshir, an academic at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.“The next frontier will be over these last barriers.”
The circus with the dismal of the Shin Bet leader continues... Setting up standoff, High Court issues temporary order against dismissing Shin Bet chief In wake of ruling, AG tells Netanyahu he’s prohibited from even interviewing new candidates, says could be a conflict of interest; PM says government will decide on who heads Shin Bet https://www.timesofisrael.com/setti...rary-order-against-dismissing-shin-bet-chief/