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Jerusalem, 21 March 2025 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to the Supreme Court of Justice (BAGAT) ruling to freeze the process of dismissing Ronen Barak as head of Shabak, saying that the government will act within the law. “There will be no civil war! The State of Israel is a state governed by the rule of law, and by law, the Israeli government decides who will become the head of Shabak,” Netanyahu said. This was reported by Newsru.
The situation escalated after High Court of Justice judge Gila Kanfi-Steinitz issued an order suspending Bar’s resignation pending the outcome of appeals against the decision. According to her, the High Court of Justice panel of judges will consider these appeals in the near future – by 8 April. As of now, according to the government’s decision, Ronen Bar is to step down on 10 April or upon the appointment of his successor, whichever comes first.
The BAGAC decision sparked a wave of criticism from government circles, with some ministers calling the ruling “null and void”. This, in turn, has provoked outrage from the opposition and the business community, which fear that the government may ignore the court’s verdict. Netanyahu, however, tried to calm the situation by emphasising his commitment to legal principles, although his words did not ease tensions in society.
The conflict over the resignation of the head of the Shabak, responsible for the country’s internal security, has become another manifestation of the deep political split in Israel. The opposition accuses the prime minister of attempting to usurp power, while his supporters consider the actions of the IDF to be interference with the government’s prerogatives. It is expected that the appeals will be a key moment in determining the further development of the crisis.
