Israel's government has released the head of the domestic secret service. Premier Netanyahu cited a lack of trust as the reason. Thousands took to the streets against the decision, the opposition moves to court.
Without angry mass protests, Israel's legal government by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released the head of the domestic secret service.
The cabinet unanimously approved Netanyahu's decision to reduce Schin Bet boss Ronen Bar of his office, said the Prime Minister's office at night. According to the media, it is the first time in the history of Israel that a government dismisses the head of the Schin Bet.
Netanyahu speaks of a lack of trust
Netanyahu, against which a corruption process has been running for years, announced the release of Ronen Bar on Sunday evening. He cited a “lack of trust” in the head of the secret service as the reason.
The relationships between the two have been considered burdened for a long time. Among other things, the question of the responsibility for the terrorist attack of Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
In a report published by the Schin Bet, the secret service admitted its own failure, but also criticized Netanyahu. It was said that a failed government policy had created the climate that led to the attack.
Investigations for alleged payments from Qatar
The Schin Bet also investigates confidants from Netanyahu for alleged relationships with Qatar. According to media reports, it is about alleged cash payments that Netanyahus should have received Katar consultants in return to improve the image of the GulfMirat in Israel.
In addition to Egypt and the USA, Qatar is one of the indirect discussions with Islamist Hamas, but is also considered a supporter of the terrorist organization. In Israel's press, the investigation is called “catargate”.
Opposition pulls in front of the Supreme Court
Several Israeli opposition parties want to take action against the discharge of cash. The center-right party “Jesch Atid” by the opposition politician Jair Lapid said that it had appealed against the government's procedure at the Supreme Court of Justice. She condemned the dismissal of Bar and stated that the decision was “on a blatant conflict of interests” by the head of government Netanyahu.
The appeal was submitted in the name of a total of four opposition parties: In addition to “Jesch Atid”, the Central National Union of the former Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, the Democratic Party of Jair Golan and the Nationalist Party Israel Beiteinu by Avigdor Lieberman followed.
Protests in Jerusalem
Netanyahu had previously taken bar from the Israeli negotiation team in the indirect conversations with Hamas. Bar will end his office on April 10, unless a successor will be appointed before, Netanyahu's office continued.
Thousands of people protested in front of Netanyahu's official residence in a pouring rain. According to the media, there were also clashes with the police.
Demonstrators block a street to Jerusalem during a demonstration against the dismissal of the Schin Bet boss.
According to the local media, police officers used water cannons to hold the protesters. In the days before, there had been major protests against Bar's discharge.
