Overview

• The Israeli Supreme Court declared Prime Minister Netanyahu's dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar unlawful, citing procedural violations.
• The ruling prohibits the appointment of a new Shin Bet chief until clear legal guidelines are established.
• Netanyahu justified the dismissal by claiming a loss of trust in Bar following Shin Bet's failures during the October 2023 Hamas attack.
• Bar, who plans to resign on June 15, alleged under oath that the dismissal was politically motivated and linked to his refusal to surveil political opponents.
• The decision underscores tensions over judicial oversight, democratic norms, and the independence of Israel's security institutions.