In Israel, the dismissed chief of Shin Bet challenges Netanyahu – Liberation

Dismissed by the government but still in office, the head of the Israeli internal security services replica. Ronen Bar accuses Benyamin Netanyahu, in a written declaration under oath, of having demanded personal loyalty from him. This is the last episode of the juridico-political saga which opposes the Israeli Prime Minister to the head of the Shin Bet, whose dismissal announced by the government caused an uproar in a large part of Israeli opinion. Its sidelining is disputed in particular by the opposition, which sees it as the sign of an autocratic drift of power, and by the general prosecutor of the State.

In his declaration written this Monday, April 21, Bar writes that, in the case of a constitutional crisis, « It was clear » that Netanyahu expected him to obey him rather than to the Supreme Court. Ronen Bar also firmly rejects the accusations of Netanyahu and his entourage that the Shin Bet did not alert the Prime Minister and the other security services in time during the attack on October 7, 2023. But Benyamin Netanyahu repeated this accusation on Monday, believing that Bar had « Miserably failed » that day and that « This reason alone justifies the end of his mandate ».

Around 3 a.m. on October 7, 2023, all security agencies had received an alert concerning « Unusual preparations and the possibility of offensive intentions from Hamas », According to the Shin Bet. Bar explains in particular how he went to the headquarters of the internal security services at 4:30 am, two hours before the attack on Hamas on Israeli soil, and gave instructions for the Prime Minister’s military advisor to be informed of the events. « That night, nothing was hidden from the security apparatus or the Prime Minister, » he adds.

In his statement, Ronen Bar also indicates that the Prime Minister told him « To more than one recovery » that he expected his services to act against Israeli citizens involved in demonstrations against the government, « With a particular emphasis on the surveillance of protest donors ». He also confirms information published in the media that Netanyahu has sought to obtain his signature to delay the Prime Minister’s testimony in his trial for corruption. He also accuses the Prime Minister of having him « Ousted » Negotiations on the release of hostages, saying that this decision has jeopardized the continuation of discussions on a ceasefire with Hamas.

The Head of Government countered on Monday, April 21, in a statement from his services refuting statements on Monday, April 21, April 21 « Filled with lies ».

On April 8, the Supreme Court confirmed in a judgment its initial decision to suspend the dismissal of the chief of Shin Bet, after examining the five appeals which she had been seized. Ronen Bar « Will continue to exercise your functions to a later decision, » decided the court. « I will soon announce the date of my resignation », concludes the interested party in the 11 -page document made public this Monday.