Quotes
With a submissive coalition of yes men, Netanyahu is on his way to dismantling all of Israel’s gatekeepers,
Barak Seri wrote in a column for Maariv, a center-right daily
The removal of the head of the Shin Bet should not be seen in isolation,
said Amichai Cohen, a law professor and fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based research group
The judicial overhaul is back,
Professor Cohen addedHe saw it as a direct threat,
Mr. Shtrauchler saidI believe this step is critical for rehabilitating the organisation, achieving the objectives of the war and preventing the next catastrophe.”
He added
I congratulate the Prime Minister on the decision to fire the head of the Shin Bet. This is something I have been demanding for a long time, and better late than never,
Ben Gvir wrote
I took responsibility for the agency's part (in failing to prevent the attack) ... it is clear that the intent behind my dismissal is not related to October 7,
he wrote in a statement
All the slander and all the attempts to shift responsibility for the failure onto the security system will not help Netanyahu. He is primarily responsible for the failure and disaster of Oct. 7, and that is all that will be remembered of him."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said
Two years ago, it was announced that the Shin Bet is holding discussions on how to act if the Knesset acts against the justice system,
Maoz continued
In a democracy, the people are the sovereign through their elected representatives. Not the 'right-thinking people,' not a detached legal clique, not the elite, nor the failed bureaucrats who hold the horns of the altar."
In another post on 𝕏, Karhi wroteThis is what democracy looks like. This is how you defeat the Deep State."
Following Netanyahu's announcement on Sunday that he is moving to fire Bar, Maoz posted on 𝕏It would have been appropriate for the head of Shin Bet to take real responsibility and resign on his own initiative more than a year ago, saving the need for his removal,
he continuedIt’s a fundamentally flawed expectation that is in contravention with the Shin Bet law and statesmanship,
he said in a rare public statement
Israeli democracy is on a crash course,
said Ami Ayalon, a former head of the Shin BetDue to ongoing lack of trust, I have decided to bring a proposal to the government to end the tenure of the Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar,
Netanyahu said in a video statement
I have had a persistent lack of confidence in the head of the Shin Bet, a distrust that has only grown over time,
he saidThe duty of trust owed by the head of the Shin Bet is first and foremost to the citizens of Israel – this perception is what underlies all of my actions and decisions, ... The Prime Minister’s expectation of a personal duty of trust whose purpose contradicts the public interest is a fundamentally wrong expectation.”
Bar said
For a year and a half, he saw no reason to fire him, but only when the investigation into Qatar’s infiltration of Netanyahu’s office and the funds transferred to his closest aides began, did he suddenly feel an urgent need to fire him immediately,
opposition leader Yair Lapid saidWe are in the midst of a war for our very survival … At any time, but especially during such an existential war, the prime minister must have complete confidence in the director of the [Shin Bet]. Unfortunately, however, the situation is the opposite.”
Netanyahu said
The dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet is a desperate attempt by a criminal defendant to get rid of someone who is loyal to Israel and who is investigating Netanyahu and his close circle for serious and dark offences and is not willing to whitewash them,
Golan said