Numerous organizations have announced that they will protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Service), in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
After a three-hour collaborative discussion among approximately 100 protest leaders in Israel on Monday morning, a decision was made to organize a major protest in response to the prime minister’s decision.
The protest will start with a march departing from Motza at 8 a.m. towards the Knesset, where demonstrators will sit until the government meeting concludes.
Following that, the protesters plan to proceed in a mass march from the Knesset to Netanyahu’s private residence at 35 Aza Street for a longer-term gathering.
“We cannot allow the coalition to realize its vision and destroy Israel completely,” Hofshi B’Artzenu (Free in Our Land) CEO Eran Schwartz said. “The protest is a way for the people to express their opposition to the regime. The majority of the people understand that what is at stake is [either] the future of the coalition or the future of the state, and the masses want to come and demand the future of the state.
“Firing the head of the Shin Bet while investigating the prime minister’s entourage is not only illegitimate but also illegal, according to the attorney-general’s directive,” Schwartz said. “Therefore, we will rise together with all protest organizations and tens of thousands of citizens to protest against the firing of the Shin Bet head, against the draft evasion law, and against the continuation of the regime coup. We cannot allow the coalition to realize its vision and destroy Israel completely.”
Appeal to the attorney-general
Netanyahu accused Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara of attempting to usurp the government’s discretion, which he called a dangerous betrayal of its explicit authority, in a letter sent on Monday.
“Your insinuations regarding suspicions of ‘illegality and conflict of interest’ represent a complete reversal of justice,” Netanyahu wrote.
He further stated, “Contrary to your claims, the intent to terminate the Shin Bet chief’s term did not arise in the context of the investigation. In fact, the ‘investigation’ was initiated only after the possibility of terminating his term was raised and reported in the media.”
On Sunday night, Baharav-Miara sent a letter to Netanyahu blocking him from firing Bar until the agency’s probe of “Qatargate” is complete.
While Netanyahu has sole authority over appointing the head of the Shin Bet, Baharav-Miara emphasized that the position is apolitical and should not be subject to political loyalty, unlike other appointments within the Prime Minister’s Office.
On Sunday, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel (MQG) appealed to the attorney-general following Bar’s dismissal.
In its appeal, the movement clarified that this is an unlawful decision tainted by “a serious conflict of interest.”
Adv. Dr. Eliad Shraga, chair of the MQG, stated, “The firing of the head of the Shin Bet in the midst of sensitive investigations concerning the Prime Minister’s Office and without consulting legal counsel is not only an unlawful act – it is a serious violation of the independence of the law enforcement system and the rule of law itself.
“This decision is an extreme example of conflict of interest and governmental overreach,” Shraga said. “This is conduct that endangers Israeli democracy and national security. We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately stop this unlawful move.”
Schools won't be turned into 'arenas of political struggle'
Ze’ev Degani, the principal of Herzliya Gymnasium in Tel Aviv, announced that classes would be canceled on Wednesday so that the older students could attend the protests in Jerusalem.
“Ze’ev Degani is a criminal,” The Education Ministry said in response. “His decision to shut down schools and send students to a political demonstration is a serious and direct violation of the compulsory education law. The education system deserves respect, and we will not allow schools to be turned into arenas of political struggle,” the ministry stated.
“The principal of Herzliya Gymnasium has been summoned to an urgent hearing, and any similar ownership will face legal action as well as financial fines.”
Legal Petition
Opposition leaders announced measures on Monday as well.
Four opposition parties – Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu, and the Democrats – wrote a letter to Netanyahu and Baharav-Miara on Monday evening, threatening to file a petition against them to the High Court of Justice if the move advanced.
The parties argued that the move was illegal due to Netanyahu’s conflict of interest, the failure to confide first with the A-G, and more.
“This is a clear abuse of governmental authority, under circumstances that clearly indicate that the considerations underlying the decision are improper and foreign, in direct contradiction to the considerations guiding the work of the Israel Security Agency in accordance with the law,” they wrote.
The decision to send the letter was made during a meeting between the heads of the opposition parties earlier on Monday in the Knesset to coordinate parliamentary and extra-parliamentary activity against the government after Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday that he had decided to fire Bar.
The party leaders who participated in the meeting included opposition leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), National Unity chairman MK Benny Gantz, and Democrats chairman Yair Golan. Lapid met with Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman earlier on Monday as Liberman was touring Ariel University at the appointed hour.
Prior to the meeting, Golan posted on X/Twitter, “To my fellow opposition leaders, I must say – this is the moment of truth. There is no longer room for compromises or petty political calculations. We must unite now and be a solid wall against Netanyahu’s attempts to dismantle democratic Israel. This is what is expected of us – and this is our responsibility.”
Golan later expressed support for Tel Aviv University chairman Prof. Ariel Porat, who announced that the university would join protests if Netanyahu went forward with the move.
Golan wrote on X, “This is a decisive moment – politicians, educators, organization leaders, and protest leaders – we must all be at the forefront of the struggle, set an example, and serve as a model of courage and democracy for their students.
“We call on additional public leaders to join the initiative. We will not allow Netanyahu to eliminate the gatekeepers – together we will fight, and we will win,” Golan wrote.