The dispute between the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court has been going on for a long time, where Israel's current government has wanted to limit the Supreme Court's mandate – which has previously led to massive protests.
The struggle intensified when the government voted on Thursday evening to dismiss Ronen Bar, who is the head of the country's internal security service Shin Bet.
Review Appeals
The decision was temporarily stopped by the country's Supreme Court on Friday. The Supreme Court wants to review the appeals filed against the dismissal. The decision applies until the appeals are presented, no later than April 8.
Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara then announced that the Prime Minister is not allowed to appoint a successor during the ongoing process.
The response came quickly from Netanyahu:
"The State of Israel is a state of law, and according to the law, it is Israel's government that decides who will lead (intelligence service) Shin Bet", Netanyahu wrote on the X platform. Netanyahu did not mention the Supreme Court, but his statement was still a direct attack on the country's Supreme Court.
Lacks Confidence
Netanyahu stated earlier in the week that he lacks confidence in Bar. The security chief responded in a letter to the assembled ministers, where he repeated his harsh criticism of Netanyahu and his demands for "personal loyalty", which Bar considers inappropriate.
The two men have disagreed on who bears the greater responsibility for Hamas' ability to carry out the bloody terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023.
Ronen Bar says he has taken responsibility for Shin Bet's failure at the time and that Netanyahu's decision has little to do with it.
The dismissal must be formally approved in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, where Netanyahu's government coalition has a majority.
