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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has started the process of selecting candidates for the post of head of the General Security Service (Shabak) after the Supreme Court of Justice (BAGAT) lifted the ban imposed by the government’s legal adviser.
The selection process started amid a heated judicial and political battle over attempts to dismiss the current head of the service, Ronen Bar. Earlier, following an appeal against his dismissal, the BAGAC issued a temporary ban on the implementation of the decision. At the same time, the government’s legal adviser, Gali Baarav-Miara, said that the government has no right not only to dismiss Bar but also to interview potential successors.
However, on 25 March, the Supreme Court rejected the government’s appeal to allow the dismissal, but overturned the broad interpretation of the ban, allowing Netanyahu to begin interviews with candidates for the Shabak chairmanship.
According to Can 11, three main candidates are currently being considered:
– M. is the current deputy head of Shabak, who has been in office for only three months;
– former deputy head of the service, name withheld;
– Roly is another ex-deputy who had previously applied for the position of CEO but lost out to Ronen Baru.
Traditionally, the new head of the service is one of its deputies, either current or former. The only exception was the appointment of Ami Ayalon after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, who had not previously served in the Shabak.
On 8 April, the High Court of Justice will consider an appeal against the release of Ronen Bar. The case will be heard by judges Yitzhak Amit, Noam Solberg and Daphne Barak-Erez. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation Kan appealed to the Courts Administration to allow the hearing to be broadcast live.
