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In recent news, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has made headlines by calling his internal security chief a “liar” in a sworn affidavit to Israel’s supreme court. Netanyahu firmly denied allegations that he attempted to politicize the powerful Shin Bet domestic spy agency. This statement comes in response to claims made by Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, who accused Netanyahu of demanding personal loyalty in potential future constitutional crises with the judiciary. Bar also alleged that he was asked to monitor anti-government protesters and intervene in Netanyahu’s corruption trial on security grounds.
The rival affidavits were submitted as the supreme court deliberates on whether Netanyahu has the authority to dismiss the spy chief. Bar was terminated by Netanyahu’s government last month, citing a “loss of confidence,” but the court issued an injunction halting his removal until the legality of the action is determined. Netanyahu dismissed Bar’s accusations as “lies and contradictions” aimed at distorting the truth.
Netanyahu refuted claims that he instructed Bar to monitor peaceful protesters, stating that his request was to handle potentially violent activists inciting actions against officials. He also denied seeking Bar’s assistance in stopping his corruption trial, attributing his concerns to security measures following a drone strike on his residence by Hizbollah.
While Netanyahu did not directly address Bar’s allegation of seeking support in a clash with the supreme court, he emphasized the lack of evidence to support such claims. The Prime Minister’s coalition has been at odds with legal and judicial authorities, attempting to diminish their influence.
In a lengthy portion of the affidavit, Netanyahu disputed Bar’s account of events leading up to the 2023 Hamas attack, holding Bar accountable for the intelligence failure. Netanyahu and his allies have sought to shift blame for the attack onto security chiefs who have since departed their positions.
Despite being in power for a significant period, Netanyahu has avoided taking responsibility for the attack and obstructed efforts to establish a national inquiry commission. The affidavit sheds light on the ongoing tensions between the government and security agencies in Israel.
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