|
Protests against Netanyahu’s government are taking place in Israel after the cabinet voted unanimously to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Yossi Mekelberg, a senior fellow at Chatham House, said the matter would be taken to the Supreme Court as Shin Bet was investigating the prime minister’s office for alleged breach of security and corruption.
“The decision to fire the head of the organisation that was conducting this investigation looks very bad,” Mekelberg told Al Jazeera. “What we’re seeing right now is that Israel under Netanyahu is becoming more and more authoritarian. He’s trying to get rid of all the gatekeepers of Israel’s democratic foundation.”
Netanyahu’s cabinet is also expected to debate a motion of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Sunday, who had previously been accused of having politicised her role to hinder the government.
On Thursday, the former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, Israel’s most revered jurist, said he feared Netanyahu’s actions will push the country into civil war.
“There is a real worry,” Mekelberg said, adding as demonstrations continue Netanyahu is using the war on Gaza as a diversion. “By diverting attention, he thinks he can survive until the next election.”
----
Source: AJE Live blog
|
