Photo: Depositphotos
JERUSALEM, 17 March – The process of dismissing Shabak (Shin Bet) Internal Security Service (ISS) head Ronen Baram is facing unexpected legal obstacles. Israeli government legal adviser Gali Baharav-Miara has officially warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the procedure cannot begin without a comprehensive legal review.
She stressed that before any decision is made, the factual circumstances, legal grounds and powers of the Prime Minister must be assessed, as the position of the head of the Shabak is not a personal position of the head of government.
Legal dispute over dismissal
Baharav-Miara warned that Bar’s hasty dismissal could create a conflict of interest and even violate the law. She also noted that the situation is unprecedented, as Israeli law does not provide for a direct possibility for the prime minister to unilaterally dismiss the head of Shabak.
However, Minister of Justice Yariv Levin strongly disagreed with the adviser’s conclusions and criticised her position. He insisted that the Shabak Law clearly grants the government the right to dismiss the head of the service early. Levin also warned that the legal bureaucracy should not limit the power of the government.
“The government should not succumb to pressure or threats of losing control. We need to make decisions in accordance with the law, and legal advisers need to comply with these rules,” he said.
Levin also drew parallels with the protests of March 2023, when mass demonstrations and a boycott by military reservists disrupted judicial reform, which, in his opinion , led to a crisis of governability in Israel.
Was Netanyahu inspired by Trump’s example?
According to Axios, Netanyahu made the decision to dismiss him after a trip to Washington in February. Journalist Barak Ravid reports that the prime minister was inspired by Donald Trump’s policy of fighting the so-called “deep state” and appointing only loyal associates to key positions.
On 16 March, Netanyahu personally informed Ronen Bara of his intention to put his dismissal to a vote in the government. In his address to the nation, the prime minister explained his decision by the loss of confidence in the head of Shabak, saying that “in wartime, this cannot be ignored”.
What will happen next?
While the legal review delays the official process, the conflict between the Netanyahu government and its critics is only escalating. If the government’s legal adviser proves his case, Netanyahu may be faced with a choice: to seek a political compromise or to go into open confrontation with the judiciary.
Given the tense security situation in the country and the risk of escalation in Gaza, the decision to dismiss the head of Shabak could have far-reaching consequences for Israel’s security and the stability of the government itself.
