Cabinet meeting starts to discuss Netanyahu call to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar

A cabinet meeting begins to discuss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, which would mark the first time in Israeli history that the government has fired the head of the domestic security agency.

Netanyahu cited “persistent personal and professional distrust” of Bar that harms both the government and the security service.

Thousands are protesting outside the office with critics fearing that the prime minister is seeking to replace Bar with a loyalist who will quash the Shin Bet’s ongoing probe into ties between officials in his office and Qatar, as well as further solidify and potentially politicize the government’s hold over the country’s security apparatuses.

Bar is not taking part in the meeting even though he was invited, however, he sent a written response to the cabinet.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who told the government that it could not push ahead with the move before it obtains a recommendation from an advisory committee on the issue, is attending.

Bar and Baharav-Miara are two officials who have drawn the ire of Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition in recent months. Reports indicated the cabinet could attempt to oust Baharav-Miara next week.