Despite pressure to dissuade him from filing statement to the High Court of Justice in the Zionist entity, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar told the court that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired him over expectation of personal loyalty rather than professional considerations.
In a formal statement to the court relating to petitions against the government’s decision to fire him, the Shin Bet head listed several decisions he made regarding Netanyahu’s affairs that contravened the premier’s expectation of loyalty.
He told the court that he was fired not due to professional considerations, but rather due to expectations from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he be loyal to the premier and obey him over the High Court, in the event of a constitutional crisis.
Bar added that “it was made clear to me” that in the event of a constitutional crisis, he must obey the prime minister and not the orders of the Supreme Court.
Those decisions, Bar said, included his authorization of an investigation of the classified documents scandal in the Prime Minister’s Office; his refusal to tell the Jerusalem District Court that Netanyahu couldn’t testify due to security considerations; the Shin Bet’s assertion that the political leadership was in part responsible for the October 7 attack; the agency’s position that there should be a state commission of inquiry into the catastrophe; and Bar’s authorization of an investigation into the Qatargate scandal.
Bar also asserted that Netanyahu wanted to him to use the Shin Bet’s authority to track those involved in anti-government protests and hand over details of protest leaders, but that Bar refused to do so.
He added that Netanyahu made such requests after formal work meetings had ended and after his military secretary and the stenographer had left the room, in order that they not be recorded.
Source: Israeli media
