Source: Bloomberg
“Israel’s Supreme Court told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he couldn’t dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency, until further notice. The decision Tuesday came at the end of a heated 10-hour court hearing debating multiple petitions against Bar’s firing that were submitted on grounds of improper procedure and conflict of interest on the part of Netanyahu. The Shin Bet has been investigating ties between his close aides and Qatar. The Israeli premier’s cabinet voted unanimously to fire Bar several weeks ago, saying that he had a ‘misunderstanding of the subordination of the service and its head to the political echelon.’ Netanyahu and the Shin Bet chief have quarreled over responsibility for the failure to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza, and the subsequent handling of hostage negotiations.” (04/08/25)