High Court interim ruling says Netanyahu can’t fire Shin Bet chief Bar for now or limit his powers

The High Court of Justice issues an interim injunction stating that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must remain in office until further notice while the government and the attorney general’s office try to come to an agreement on how to resolve the legal dispute over his dismissal.

The court’s decision also formalizes its proposal to the government and the attorney general to reach such an agreement and gives the sides until April 20, the day after Passover, to do so.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs and representatives for the Attorney General’s Office appeared willing to hold a dialogue as to how to resolve the dispute, after Justice Noam Sohlberg initially suggested in court that the matter be sent to the advisory committee for senior civil service appointments for its recommendation.

The court tells the government that it cannot take any action to remove Bar from office while the interim injunction is in place, including declaring that it has found his replacement, and must not impede his authority as Shin Bet chief or change the working relations between the government and the domestic security agency.