Netanyahu’s Latest Power Play: A Bid to Control Israel’s Domestic Intelligence Agency
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and concern, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched an unprecedented attempt to remove Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. This bold step is the latest in a two-year campaign by Netanyahu’s government to consolidationnd increase control over various branches of the state. The move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, business executives, and even the attorney general, reminiscent of the social unrest that erupted in 2023 when Netanyahu first attempted to reduce the power of state watchdogs. The plan to hold a cabinet vote on Bar’s future comes less than a month after the government announced its intention to dismiss Gali Baharav-Miara, the Israeli attorney general, and amid renewed efforts by Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition to exert greater control over the selection of Supreme Court justices. These actions have reignited fears about the erosion of democratic institutions and the concentration of power in the hands of the executive branch.
A Return to the Judicial Overhaul Agenda
Netanyahu’s efforts to undermine the independence of key institutions such as the Shin Bet, the Supreme Court, and the attorney general are part of a broader strategy that first came to light in 2023. At the time, Netanyahu’s government proposed a judicial overhaul that sought to reduce the power of the Supreme Court and grant politicians greater influence over the judiciary. The move was met with fierce resistance, leading to months of mass protests and deepening divisions within Israeli society. The campaign was temporarily halted in October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack on Israel, which united the nation in the face of a common threat. However, with the easing of tensions in Gaza and a shaky ceasefire in place, Netanyahu appears to be revisiting his earlier plans, reigniting the political and social upheaval that many had hoped was behind them.
Opposition andCriticism: A Call to Action
The attempt to remove Ronen Bar has been met with strong opposition from various quarters. On Monday, opposition leaders and grassroots activists called for mass protests outside government headquarters in Jerusalem, where the cabinet is set to vote on Bar’s future. A coalition of 300 major business leaders also issued a rare statement criticizing the move, reflecting the broader concern among Israel’s economic elite about the implications of such a decision. Attorney General Baharav-Miara has also weighed in, stating that Netanyahu cannot legally initiate the process of firing Bar until it is determined whether such a move would be lawful. She raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest for the prime minister, warning of a constitutional crisis if Netanyahu were to ignore her warnings. These developments have drawn parallels to the events of 2023, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets weekly to protest the judicial overhaul, and business leaders joined labor unions in a national strike.
The Personal and Political Dynamics Behind the Move
While the broader context of Netanyahu’s actions is a power struggle between his right-wing coalition and its opponents, the immediate trigger for the attempt to remove Bar appears to be a personal dispute between the prime minister and the Shin Bet chief. Over the past few months, Bar has angered Netanyahu by investigating officials in the prime minister’s office over allegations of leaking secret documents and working with individuals connected to Qatar, an Arab state with ties to Hamas. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing, and the Qatari government has not responded to requests for comment. Analysts suggest that the final straw for Netanyahu was a rare public intervention by Bar’s predecessor, Nadav Argaman, who hinted in a television interview that he might reveal further accusations of wrongdoing by the prime minister if Netanyahu were to break the law. Such comments from a close ally of Bar were seen as a direct threat by Netanyahu, who reportedly felt he had no choice but to act.
The Broader Implications: A Battle for Israel’s Future
The attempt to fire Ronen Bar is part of a much larger and deeply contentious debate about the nature and future of the Israeli state. Netanyahu’s governing coalition is composed of parties that represent ultrareligious Jews seeking to preserve their privileges and settler activists aiming to deepen Israel’s control over the West Bank while further curbing Palestinian rights. These groups have long resented the independence of watchdog institutions such as the judiciary, the attorney general, and the security services, which have sought to limit the privileges of the ultra-Orthodox, block certain moves by the settler movement, and prosecute Netanyahu for corruption. He is currently on trial on charges he denies. While Netanyahu and his supporters argue that reining in these institutions would enhance democracy by allowing lawmakers to enact the policies voters elected them to pursue, opponents warn that such moves would weaken democracy by removing critical checks on government power. They fear that Netanyahu’s coalition, the most conservative and nationalist in Israeli history, is pushing to create a less pluralistic and more authoritarian society.
The Fallout and Future Prospects
The fallout from Netanyahu’s latest move has been significant, with opposition leaders and analysts warning that the prime minister is systematically dismantling Israel’s democratic safeguards. Barak Seri, a columnist for the center-right daily Maariv, wrote, “With a submissive coalition of yes men, Netanyahu is on his way to dismantling all of Israel’s gatekeepers. To dismantling everything that is protecting Israel as we have known it since its establishment.” Meanwhile, the attorney general’s warning about the legality of firing Bar has raised the specter of a constitutional crisis should Netanyahu choose to disregard her advice. As tensions rise, the focus will remain on the cabinet vote scheduled for Wednesday, which could mark a turning point in Israel’s ongoing struggle over the balance of power and the future of its democracy.
