Alex Lederman
@alexlederman.bsky.social
The stakes surrounding Bar's firing are high. The immediate concern is if the government boycotts the court or the Shin Bet, delegitimizing state bodies. The longer-term concern is if the government succeeds in subjugating these institutions, eliminating checks and balances altogether.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The stakes surrounding Bar's firing are high. The immediate concern is if the government boycotts the court or the Shin Bet, delegitimizing state bodies. The longer-term concern is if the government succeeds in subjugating these institutions, eliminating checks and balances altogether.
The Shin Bet is secretive and powerful. It has extensive surveillance capabilities and a mandate to carry out arrests. It's not hard to imagine how such an institution could be weaponized if fully subordinate to the whims of those in power.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Shin Bet is secretive and powerful. It has extensive surveillance capabilities and a mandate to carry out arrests. It's not hard to imagine how such an institution could be weaponized if fully subordinate to the whims of those in power.
The far right also resents the Shin Bet for its focus on Jewish terrorism, including West Bank settler violence. Calls from settler leaders to shutter the Shin Bet's Jewish department have escalated. Bar has faced incitement from the right for his condemnations of settler terrorism.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The far right also resents the Shin Bet for its focus on Jewish terrorism, including West Bank settler violence. Calls from settler leaders to shutter the Shin Bet's Jewish department have escalated. Bar has faced incitement from the right for his condemnations of settler terrorism.
The Shin Bet probe into Kahanism in the police can easily be spun by Netanyahu and his allies as an attempt by the Shin Bet to carry out a deep-state coup by delegitimizing another agency—an additional pretext for demanding Bar's ouster and possible further purges of the Shin Bet's leadership.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Shin Bet probe into Kahanism in the police can easily be spun by Netanyahu and his allies as an attempt by the Shin Bet to carry out a deep-state coup by delegitimizing another agency—an additional pretext for demanding Bar's ouster and possible further purges of the Shin Bet's leadership.
The far right has a particular interest in politicizing the Shin Bet. Natl Sec Minister Ben Gvir is already doing so with the police: intervening in operations, appointing cronies, cracking down on protesters. The Shin Bet reportedly probed an infiltration of far-right extremists into the force.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The far right has a particular interest in politicizing the Shin Bet. Natl Sec Minister Ben Gvir is already doing so with the police: intervening in operations, appointing cronies, cracking down on protesters. The Shin Bet reportedly probed an infiltration of far-right extremists into the force.
Recent revelations suggest that Bibi has long sought to leverage the Shin Bet for his personal benefit. Frmr chief Yoram Cohen claimed Bibi asked him to revoke the security clearance of Naftali Bennett. Bar says that Bibi asked him to fabricate a security rationale to delay his criminal trial.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Recent revelations suggest that Bibi has long sought to leverage the Shin Bet for his personal benefit. Frmr chief Yoram Cohen claimed Bibi asked him to revoke the security clearance of Naftali Bennett. Bar says that Bibi asked him to fabricate a security rationale to delay his criminal trial.
It's also not incidental that this firestorm is over who runs the Shin Bet. Politicizing the domestic intelligence agency goes hand in hand with the government's goal of politicizing the judiciary.
Both are independent institutions that this government sees as threats to its agenda.
Both are independent institutions that this government sees as threats to its agenda.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
It's also not incidental that this firestorm is over who runs the Shin Bet. Politicizing the domestic intelligence agency goes hand in hand with the government's goal of politicizing the judiciary.
Both are independent institutions that this government sees as threats to its agenda.
Both are independent institutions that this government sees as threats to its agenda.
Govt decisions, even if procedurally correct, must be rooted in public interest, not politicians' personal interest.
This govt rejects this notion. They were elected, and thus get to rule however they want, including by changing the rules of the game. This is the rationale of the judicial overhaul.
This govt rejects this notion. They were elected, and thus get to rule however they want, including by changing the rules of the game. This is the rationale of the judicial overhaul.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Govt decisions, even if procedurally correct, must be rooted in public interest, not politicians' personal interest.
This govt rejects this notion. They were elected, and thus get to rule however they want, including by changing the rules of the game. This is the rationale of the judicial overhaul.
This govt rejects this notion. They were elected, and thus get to rule however they want, including by changing the rules of the game. This is the rationale of the judicial overhaul.
The other layer is that the decision is tainted by conflict of interest: that Bar's firing was motivated by Netanyahu's desire to thwart ongoing investigations into the Prime Minister’s Office and political disagreements, not substantive grievances with Bar as a professional.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The other layer is that the decision is tainted by conflict of interest: that Bar's firing was motivated by Netanyahu's desire to thwart ongoing investigations into the Prime Minister’s Office and political disagreements, not substantive grievances with Bar as a professional.
On the other side, there are several layers to why the petitioners, the AG, and the now High Court take issue with Bar being firing.
One is procedural: The govt bypassed the Senior Appointments Committee, didn't give evidence of misconduct, and didn't give Bar a chance to address criticism.
One is procedural: The govt bypassed the Senior Appointments Committee, didn't give evidence of misconduct, and didn't give Bar a chance to address criticism.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
On the other side, there are several layers to why the petitioners, the AG, and the now High Court take issue with Bar being firing.
One is procedural: The govt bypassed the Senior Appointments Committee, didn't give evidence of misconduct, and didn't give Bar a chance to address criticism.
One is procedural: The govt bypassed the Senior Appointments Committee, didn't give evidence of misconduct, and didn't give Bar a chance to address criticism.
The government, which unanimously voted to fire Bar on March 21, argued that it had lost trust in his leadership given the Shin Bet's October 7 failures. Since it theoretically has the authority to fire the head of the Shin Bet, the government is rejecting the court's intervention.
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The government, which unanimously voted to fire Bar on March 21, argued that it had lost trust in his leadership given the Shin Bet's October 7 failures. Since it theoretically has the authority to fire the head of the Shin Bet, the government is rejecting the court's intervention.
The IDF needs to fully confront settler and Palestinian terrorism alike. As long as Israel controls the West Bank, it must address the security and infrastructure needs of both populations, strengthen the PA and its security forces, and advance separation over annexation.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The IDF needs to fully confront settler and Palestinian terrorism alike. As long as Israel controls the West Bank, it must address the security and infrastructure needs of both populations, strengthen the PA and its security forces, and advance separation over annexation.
Transportational solutions like bypass roads are a band-aid that doesn't change the underlying issue of two populations hostile to each other enmeshed in the same area. Israeli security would be better served by discouraging settlement in such areas to reduce the IDF's burden.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Transportational solutions like bypass roads are a band-aid that doesn't change the underlying issue of two populations hostile to each other enmeshed in the same area. Israeli security would be better served by discouraging settlement in such areas to reduce the IDF's burden.
Rather than reduce friction and maintain order, the far-right's goal is to pour fuel on the fire by abetting settler attacks and rhetorically threatening the Palestinians. Amid the ongoing multi-front war, a deteriorating West Bank would be detrimental for all.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Rather than reduce friction and maintain order, the far-right's goal is to pour fuel on the fire by abetting settler attacks and rhetorically threatening the Palestinians. Amid the ongoing multi-front war, a deteriorating West Bank would be detrimental for all.
The West Bank is awash with illegal and increasingly sophisticated weapons, brought in by criminal and Iran-backed groups. It remains a powder keg waiting to erupt, with violence threatening to spread into Israel-proper with terror infiltrations across the porous Green Line.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The West Bank is awash with illegal and increasingly sophisticated weapons, brought in by criminal and Iran-backed groups. It remains a powder keg waiting to erupt, with violence threatening to spread into Israel-proper with terror infiltrations across the porous Green Line.
But National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for ending security cooperation with the PA entirely and cracking down on the Palestinian population with more checkpoints and military operations—repeating his refrain that settlers' lives trump Palestinians' freedom of movement.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
But National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for ending security cooperation with the PA entirely and cracking down on the Palestinian population with more checkpoints and military operations—repeating his refrain that settlers' lives trump Palestinians' freedom of movement.
Israel has a huge stake in the outcome: having the PA fight terrorism in the West Bank offsets the cost of security for Israel and is a rare and successful example of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation against a shared enemy.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Israel has a huge stake in the outcome: having the PA fight terrorism in the West Bank offsets the cost of security for Israel and is a rare and successful example of Israeli-Palestinian cooperation against a shared enemy.
Meanwhile in the Jenin refugee camp, a hotbed of militancy with minimal PA presence, the PA Security Forces continue a multi-week operation against militias. This is a big test of the PA's ability to control its own territory, with an eye to the possibility of returning to Gaza.
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Meanwhile in the Jenin refugee camp, a hotbed of militancy with minimal PA presence, the PA Security Forces continue a multi-week operation against militias. This is a big test of the PA's ability to control its own territory, with an eye to the possibility of returning to Gaza.
Like Huwara, the terror attack in Funduq was met with more terror. Hundreds of settlers rampaged through Funduq and other nearby communities, destroying cars and other property and threatening residents. The IDF reportedly failed to intervene. www.timesofisrael.com/settlers-rio...
Settlers riot in West Bank village for 3rd time in days after terror shooting
Farm building set on fire near Ramallah, 'revenge' scrawled in Hebrew on wall; no arrests made in nighttime revenge raids amid videos of burning cars, property
www.timesofisrael.com
January 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Like Huwara, the terror attack in Funduq was met with more terror. Hundreds of settlers rampaged through Funduq and other nearby communities, destroying cars and other property and threatening residents. The IDF reportedly failed to intervene. www.timesofisrael.com/settlers-rio...