Netanyahu ignores court: intelligence chief is appointed illegally!

Netanyahu ignores court: intelligence chief is appointed illegally!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently under immense pressure over the controversial appointment of a new head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency. According to Kleine Zeitung, the Attorney General's Office has banned the appointment because the court rulings that led to the dismissal of the previous boss Ronen Bar reveal a conflict of interest for Netanyahu. This situation is particularly sensitive because it raises questions about the legal basis of Netanyahu's actions.

Baharav-Miara, the attorney general, pointed out in a letter that the head of government does not have the authority to participate in the appointment of the new Shin Bet chief due to this conflict of interest. Netanyahu nominated Zini last Thursday as the successor to Ronen Bar, who lost his post at the end of March 2023 due to a dismissal decision that was deemed politically motivated and based on a lack of trust.

Political dimensions of Ronen Bar's dismissal

Ronen Bar's dismissal was publicly justified by the Shin Bet's failures during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Bar himself accused Netanyahu of demanding personal loyalty and pressuring him to monitor anti-government protesters. This raises serious questions about the independence of Israel's surveillance authorities and could influence public perception of Netanyahu's actions.

As debate over the appointment of the new service chief heats up, Netanyahu stressed that Iran is responsible for 95% of security threats against Israel, according to a statement made during a Passover toast with Shin Bet officials, according to Jerusalem Post. These comments came in the context of Syria's allegations that Israel carried out an airstrike on Iranian positions in Damascus. Netanyahu assured that domestic turmoil would not affect Israel's ability to combat threats from Iran, Hezbollah or Palestinian groups.

Mossad's role in the security apparatus

Given the current challenges, Netanyahu has appointed the Mossad to a central position in the fight against Hamas leaders after the October 2023 attack. As Tagesschau reports, the Mossad is known as one of the most effective secret services in the world and aims to thwart attacks on Israel far from its borders, including through targeted killings.

Mossad Director David Barnea has praised the agents for their efforts to combat existential threats and stressed the importance of traditional espionage techniques. Additionally, in his speech accepting the Prime Minister's Prize for Mossad Operations, Netanyahu emphasized the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The tensions with Iran and the domestic political challenges are therefore at the center of Israel's security strategy. It remains to be seen how the situation surrounding the appointment of the Shin Bet chief will develop and what impact this will have on the relationship between the various security agencies in Israel.