Netanyahu sparks crisis with Shin Bet Chief appointment
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked a crisis with the appointment of Navy commander Eli Sharvit to head the domestic security agency. A move that has intensified political tensions in the country.
According to The New Arab, the appointment came on the 31st of March, while the current Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar remains in a precarious position after being sacked by Netanyahu on the 21st of March.
The removal of Bar stemmed from Netanyahu’s claim of an “ongoing lack of trust” within him. This tension originated from Bar’s criticism blaming the executive for the security fiasco of Hamas’s 7th October 2023 attack on Israel.
However, the dismissal has been complicated by petitions from Israel’s opposition and a non-governmental organisation, which prompted the Supreme Court to suspend Bar’s removal.
This situation has created a potential constitutional crisis. Netanyahu appears intent on appointing his new Shin Bet Chief while Bar’s position remains unresolved, pending the Supreme Court’s final decision.
The court has set a freeze on Bar’s dismissal until the 8th of April, when appeals will be presented. This deadline has become a critical moment for Israel’s governmental institutions.
Former defence minister and opposition leader Benny Gantz has been vocal about the implications. “What is clear is that the prime minister decided this morning to continue his campaign against the judicial system and lead the state of Israel toward a dangerous constitutional crisis,” Gantz stated.
Gantz has strongly insisted that any appointment and dismissal must wait until after the Supreme Court’s decision on the 8th of April.
The situation reflects broader concerns about Netanyahu’s grip on power, particularly in light of potential legal challenges related to the war in Gaza. International observers have taken note, with politicians like Emily Thornberry criticizing Netanyahu for “clinging on to power by his fingernails”.
As the crisis unfolds, Netanyahu appears to be reaffirming his power not just in the Gaza Strip but within the very structures of his government.
The New Arab, Maghrebi.org
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