Israel’s Supreme Court Blocks Shin Bet Chief’s Firing, Urges Negotiations
Israel’s Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the government from dismissing Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, calling on both sides to negotiate a compromise by April 20. The decision, reported by The Media Line’s Simcha Pasko, follows a marathon 11-hour court session disrupted multiple times by protesters. The court order ensures that Bar remains in his post for now and prevents any steps toward replacing him until further notice.
The case has drawn national attention amid allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved to oust Bar to halt a Shin Bet probe into ties between his inner circle and Qatari officials—a scandal now referred to as “Qatargate.” Netanyahu has denied those claims, saying he lost confidence in Bar over the agency’s failure to stop the October 7 Hamas-led attack.
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Supreme Court President Isaac Amit stressed the need for dialogue and said the court would delay its final ruling if the parties made progress. Justice Noam Sohlberg suggested referring the issue back to the appointments committee, echoing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s earlier advice.
For a deeper look at the legal and political stakes behind the controversy, read Pasko’s report at The Media Line.
