Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing forward with a plan to fire the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, sparking concerns over his efforts to exert more control over different branches of the state. This move is part of a broader campaign by Netanyahu’s government to reduce the power of independent agencies and increase its own authority.
Netanyahu announced plans to hold a cabinet vote on the future of Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet agency, just weeks after his government said it would dismiss Israeli attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara. This move comes amid a renewed push by Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition to give politicians greater control over the selection of Supreme Court justices.
The plan has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and business leaders, with many warning that it could lead to a constitutional crisis if Netanyahu ignores warnings about potential conflicts of interest. Analysts say this is part of a wider trend of taking on independent agencies and increasing executive power.
Netanyahu’s efforts are seen as a return to his failed judicial overhaul program in 2023, which sparked mass protests and widened social rifts. The campaign was suspended after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, but it appears that tensions have eased again.
The move has been met with calls for mass protests and demonstrations outside the government headquarters in Jerusalem. Opposition leaders and activists say that Netanyahu’s plan undermines democracy and could lead to a less pluralist society.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/world/middleeast/israel-netanyahu-shin-bet-firing.html