Government approves resolution canceling decision to fire Shin Bet chief

The government approves a cabinet resolution to cancel its controversial March 21 decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, following Bar’s announcement yesterday that he will resign his position on June 15.

Several Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit ministers did not vote in favor of the decision, Hebrew media outlets reported.

Despite the decision, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel says it will still ask the court to issue a ruling on its petition alleging Bar’s dismissal was tainted by political and personal considerations, including the Qatargate investigation, and procedural flaws.

The petitions had caused significant concern over a constitutional crisis, with cabinet ministers threatening to disobey or work around a potential court ruling declaring Bar’s dismissal to be unlawful.

The government’s resolution said it canceled Bar’s removal from office in part due to “the ongoing crisis between the branches of government during a war of rebirth.”

“We will not let Netanyahu evade a judicial decision through tactical maneuvers,” says the Movement for Quality Government in response.

“The serious flaws in the dismissal process, the improper motivation for dismissing Bar in the midst of the Qatargate investigation, and the ongoing disregard for the rule of law require a principled ruling that will regulate the relationship between the government and the Shin Bet and protect the independence of the gatekeepers.”