Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Monday) sent a scathing letter to the Prime Minister's Legal Advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara, in light of her attempt to block the end of the term of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.
Netanyahu wrote in his letter that the legal intervention constitutes an infringement of the government's authority to make security decisions. In his letter, Netanyahu noted that terminating the term of office of the head of the Shin Bet is within the exclusive authority of the government - in accordance with the General Security Service Law.
Netanyahu wrote: "This is a first-class security decision, both in routine and even more so in times of emergency and due to urgent security challenges.".
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He added: "Your attempt to take over the government's security discretion in a time of war and under the guise of legal advice is a dangerous first-time violation of the government's express authority.".
Netanyahu attacked the attorney general's claims that there was a concern for a conflict of interest, and accused her of "abusing your authority.".
He said, "Your insinuations about suspected illegality and 'conflict of interest' are a complete reversal of justice. Your instructions to launch a series of investigations against the Prime Minister's people, whose purpose even the Israel Police do not understand, are an abuse of your authority and an improper practice that has become a system and whose entire purpose is to deny authority from the elected echelon.".
The Prime Minister emphasized: "Your claim that the position of head of the Shin Bet 'is not a personal position of trust of the Prime Minister' is manipulation. The Prime Minister and the government have never demanded a personal duty of trust. It is the legislator who determined that the service is given regardless of the government and the Prime Minister is the one in charge of the head of the service. Hence, in order to fulfill their role, the government and the Prime Minister must believe in the head of the service and in his abilities to lead the service successfully in the face of urgent challenges. This is the trust that has been damaged.".
In his letter, Netanyahu noted that the government would soon discuss the issue, and made it clear that the Attorney General would be able to participate in the discussion and voice her legal position.
""At its upcoming meeting, the government will discuss, among other things, the end of the term of office of the head of the Shin Bet, against the backdrop of the loss of confidence on the part of the prime minister and many members of the government. You will be summoned to this meeting. During it, you will be able to hear in detail the reasons for the proposed resolution and voice your legal position before the government's decision is made on the matter.".
The government will meet tomorrow evening to approve the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet. The leading candidate to replace him is M., who joined the negotiating team with the mediators.
