The Supreme Court of Israel considers Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss the head of spy

The highest court of Israel began to hear a case on Tuesday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to replace one of his best intelligence leaders – a hearing battle that could open the door to a constitutional crisis.

The attempt to fire Ronen Bar, the chief of Shin Bet, has still polarized an already divided Israel. Government supporters consider Mr. Bar as unfair to Mr. Netanyahu, and criticism consider that his withdrawal is as a dangerous precedent who undermines the independence of democratic institutions.

The audience, which was broadcast live in Israel, opened its doors with unruly scenes, while Hecklers forced a panel of the Supreme Court to suspend the procedure and take them back without public. The hearing should last much of the day and a decision was not expected on Tuesday.

Here is what you need to know about the judicial affair that dominates the headlines in Israel today.

What is the case?

Last month, Netanyahu dismissed Ronen Bar, the head of the security service Shin Bet, saying that he no longer trusted him. Critics say that Mr. Netanyahu dismissed Mr. Bar in an attempt to grasp greater power by serving a dissident voice from the Israel security establishment.

As head of the Tibia, Mr. Bar helped to direct the War of Israel in Gaza and to supervise the occupation of the decades of the West Bank. He was also part of a handful of senior officials who led the ceasefire negotiations with Hamas to release the dozens of hostages seized during the attack on October 7, 2023 which sparked the war.