A high-stakes legal and political confrontation is unfolding in Israel over the dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar. Justice Minister Yariv Levin proposed an unprecedented response on Saturday, should the High Court overturn Bar’s dismissal: complete non-cooperation with Bar.
“We need to do exactly what we did with Justice Amit—not cooperate, not work with him,” Levin told Channel 14.
(Levin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana boycotted the swearing-in of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit on Feb. 13, following what Levin labeled an “illegitimate” appointment process, as well as allegations of fraud and conflicts of interest leveled against Amit.)
When asked about the potential harm to national security, Levin dismissed the concern, asserting, “This won’t last a week. You’ll see—the Shin Bet chief will get up and leave, as he should.”
Levin echoed a hardline stance often shared by Netanyahu, refusing interviews with media outlets supporting the political opposition and urging supporters of the government not to lose hope.
“This is a tough battle, but we are very close to winning the fight,” Levin said. “I don’t want anyone in the U.S., not during the Biden administration or now, to dictate to us. We, the government, must take responsibility and say: ‘We are accountable for national security. No one can impose a Shin Bet head on us.’ If we stand united, this will end.”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, is set to consider petitions challenging Bar’s dismissal. However, several members of the Cabinet, including Levin, have publicly denied the court’s authority in this matter.
The panel hearing the petitions includes the court’s Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, considered a conservative voice, and Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, a prominent left-wing figure on the bench. The case is being closely watched, as it touches on the fundamental balance of power between Israel’s judiciary and executive branches
In a parallel development, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara submitted a scathing opinion to the Court, declaring the Cabinet’s decision to fire Bar as “fundamentally flawed.” She cited a conflict of interest involving Netanyahu, citing ongoing criminal investigations involving his close associates. She warned that the move could politicize the role of Shin Bet chief and threaten the agency’s independence.
“This is a precedent-setting and irregular decision,” Baharav-Miara wrote. “It was made hastily, failing to meet administrative legal standards and undermining accepted norms for senior appointments or dismissals. The implications are severe—it jeopardizes the Shin Bet’s future autonomy and sets a dangerous standard that could enable the dismissal of security agency heads for non-professional reasons.”
In a letter to the court, Bar rejected the framing of his position as subordinate to the political echelon. “The head of the Shin Bet is not a political appointee or a personal loyalist of the prime minister or any political figure,” he told Channel 12. Bar emphasized the importance of maintaining professional independence, especially regarding how the agency exercises its authority toward Israeli citizens.
Bar’s statement followed his earlier claim that Netanyahu had pressured him to provide a security assessment that would delay or block the prime minister’s testimony in his ongoing criminal trial. Bar refused, allegedly triggering the loss of trust that led to his dismissal. He warned that allowing such interference risks turning the Shin Bet into a “secret police” and sends a chilling message to future leaders of the organization.
In response, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a firm denial, calling Bar’s allegations “full of lies.” The statement rejected the notion that Netanyahu had asked the Shin Bet to misuse its powers against Israeli citizens, stating, “Such a thing never happened.”
