Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara reiterated her opposition to the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar over the weekend, arguing that "the decision to terminate his term fundamentally reflects a flaw and a personal conflict of interest on the part of the prime minister."

This came on the eve of the Israeli Supreme Court's consideration of petitions against the expected dismissal this week. The Attorney General also noted "criminal investigations targeting those close to the prime minister," arguing that the dismissal "would turn the position into a political loyalty position."

Baharav-Miara accompanied her position with a letter from the head of the Shin Bet himself, which included unprecedented accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bar wrote: "There is a direct connection between the Shin Bet chief's ability to faithfully perform his duties and the existence of proper mechanisms for ending his term. The potentially serious consequence of such an attack could lead to the service being transformed into a 'secret police force.'"

The continuation of the war serves Netanyahu's interests.

Amos Harel, a military analyst for Haaretz, considered Bar's letter to the Supreme Court justices "one of the most important documents published in Israel since the beginning of the 'judicial coup' plan in January 2023."

Harel said that Bar's letter to the Supreme Court justices, as part of the petition against Netanyahu's decision to dismiss him, "serves as a rare testimony revealing the depth of tension within the political-security establishment, amid what is expected to be one of the most turbulent weeks in the battle to define the identity of Israel's political system."

Bar's testimony reinforces the notion that the continuation of the war on multiple fronts essentially serves the personal political interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu fears that a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal would lead to the collapse of the political coalition supporting him, particularly with the two far-right parties that form the backbone of the ruling coalition.

More importantly, however, according to Bar, the continuation of the war is also being used as a tool to distract public opinion from the course of his trial, and as a pretext to justify repeated postponements, including the postponement of the most sensitive stage of the trial for Netanyahu: the prosecution's cross-examination.

"Loyalty Employee" and "Personal Follower"

Bar emphasized that "proceeding with the dismissal process hastily, during a sensitive period, coinciding with criminal investigations into those close to the prime minister, without proper process, and without giving him a fair opportunity to respond, means sending a clear message to all Shin Bet leaders, including future heads of the agency, that if they are not politically acceptable, they will be removed immediately."

Bar added, "Netanyahu asked me for a security opinion stating that the security situation did not permit him to testify in court, and that was the beginning of the allegations of lack of trust. The head of the Shin Bet is not a 'loyal employee' nor a 'personal subordinate' to the prime minister or any political entity."

Unprecedented accusations

In his letter, Bar addressed the investigation into Netanyahu's associates, saying, "It is my duty to ensure the public interest, stemming from the seriousness of the suspicions, is achieved: uncovering the truth in this sensitive, complex, and important case. If the court deems it appropriate, I request that the information related to this matter be presented behind closed doors and in a closed session."

He added, "In addition, it required me to uphold my professional independence in matters related to the way the agency handles matters concerning Israeli citizens, as well as in the exercise of the agency's powers against the country's citizens."

The letter stated: "It appears that the prime minister's 'lack of confidence' began to build in November 2024, with the formation of the protective arrangements related to the conduct of his criminal trial, and escalated when I wrote to ministers outlining the need for a formal commission of inquiry."

Bar added, "These (the 'lack of trust') increased in intensity after the presentation of the Shin Bet investigation, which, in addition to detailing the failures in the agency's performance, presented the need for a broader review of the context and policies within which the agency operated," and the agency's clear and explicit indication of the need to form an independent investigative committee.

The rejection that sparked the clash

Yedioth Ahronoth published details of an unprecedented escalation between the prime minister and the head of the Shin Bet security service (Shin Bet), after Bar refused orders from Netanyahu that included, according to the report, "lie detector tests for ministers on suspicion of leaks from cabinet meetings," and the use of the Shin Bet "and its own tools to suppress protests."

Netanyahu also pressured the Shin Bet and the State Prosecution to exempt him from appearing as a witness in court, citing "personal security reasons." He claimed that court sessions could not be held in secure locations, and that if a suitable location were found, it should be rejected after one session because "its safety requires constant movement," and that "the meeting place must be secret." The agency interpreted this as an attempt to postpone the trial until the end of the war.

Ultimately, the hearings were held in the basement of the Tel Aviv District Court, with the proceedings kept public and the prime minister's security ensured. This angered Netanyahu, which precipitated Bar's dismissal.

"The continued presence of the head of the Shin Bet in his position irreversibly harms state security."

This morning, Sunday, the Israeli government submitted its response to the Supreme Court regarding the petitions submitted against the decision to dismiss Bar. The response, independent of the Attorney General's position, stated that "Bar's continued tenure constitutes an irreparable harm to state security."

The government's response stated: "Imposing continued mandate is unreasonable and inconsistent with the powers granted to an elected government in a democratic state responsible for the security of the state and its citizens. Every additional day or night in this situation could cause irreversible harm to the security of the state and the safety of its citizens and soldiers. Hence the urgent need to implement the decision."

She added, "The Shin Bet chief's term was terminated by government decision, due to the government's loss of confidence in him. This closes the door to his continued tenure, and he must terminate his duties," calling for the petitions to be rejected "immediately." The response concluded by emphasizing, "Even the prime minister himself remains in his position as long as he enjoys the Knesset's confidence. Once this confidence is removed, he cannot continue to perform his duties."

Netanyahu's office responded: The Shin Bet has lost the government's confidence.

The Prime Minister's Office responded, "The lack of confidence in the Shin Bet chief, as felt by the Prime Minister and all his ministers without exception, does not stem from a matter of personal loyalty, but rather from a lack of confidence in his performance following his decisive role in the October 7 failure, when he chose not to inform the political leadership, and from a series of other events that subsequently undermined professional confidence in him."

He added, "The only party acting out of personal motives is the head of the Shin Bet, who is clinging to his position after losing the confidence of the entire government. His recent statement is tainted by a blatant conflict of interest, and it's no surprise that it coincided with a letter from the attorney general, who is also embroiled in a major conflict of interest."