Affidavit from Shin Bet chief alleges Binyamin Netanyahu requested illegal actions

Mark Weiss in Jerusalem - The Irish Times - 19:50
Ronen Bar claims Israeli PM asked him to argue that due to security concerns there was no safe venue to host his corruption trial

As prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu presses ahead with his efforts to oust Ronen Bar, director of the Israel internal security agency Shin Bet, the intelligence chief submitted a damming affidavit to Israel’s high court, revealing a number of occasions in which he claims Mr Netanyahu asked him to act illegally.

Mr Bar wrote that Mr Netanyahu asked him to channel Shin Bet resources to keep tabs on anti-government protesters, specifically to determine the source of funding for the campaign against the government’s controversial judicial reforms.

Mr Bar also wrote: “It was made clear to me that in the event of a constitutional crisis – I was to obey the prime minister and not the high court of justice.”

Mr Bar claims he was also asked by Mr Netanyahu to write an opinion arguing that d...
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