Israeli spy chief hands court scathing rebuke of Netanyahu bid to sack him

Maayan Lubell - Reuters - 21/04
The head of Israel's domestic intelligence service said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to sack him followed his refusal to fulfil requests that included spying on Israeli protesters and disrupting the leader's corruption trial.
  • Bar claims dismissal linked to refusal to spy on protesters
  • Netanyahu's office plans to refute Bar's affidavit
  • Supreme Court yet to rule on Bar's dismissal case
JERUSALEM, April 21 (Reuters) - The head of Israel's domestic intelligence service said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to sack him followed his refusal to fulfil requests that included spying on Israeli protesters and disrupting the leader's corruption trial.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the head of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, said that Netanyahu's March move to dismiss him was not based on professional grounds but was prompted by unmet expectations of personal loyalty to the prime minister.

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In response, Netanyahu's office said it would soon deliver a detailed refute of Bar's affidavit, which it called "false".
Netanyahu's move to sack Bar fuelled protests in Israel and was suspended by the Supreme Court, after political watchdogs and opposition lawmakers argued the dismissal was unlawful.
Critics say that the government is undermining key state ins...
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