Netanyahu calls the new Israeli spy, despite the confrontation with the court

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed from Israel a new head of local intelligence service on Monday, where his closest government was to confront with the Supreme Court, which temporarily suspended the current spying president earlier this month.

The office of Mr. Netanyahu announced that Eli Carvit, former naval president, will succeed Ronin Bar, the current head of the local espionage agency in Israel. The Cabinet for Mr. Netanyahu decided earlier in March that Mr. Bar would be rejected early in his post, as soon as Khalifa was installed.

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s move was avoided by a constitutional crisis. The officials explained that the installation of Mr. Carvit in this role will be delayed until the Supreme Court holds a hearing on April 8 on the legitimacy of Mr. Bar’s dismissal.

But the episode has already increased concerns among the critics of Mr. Netanyahu that he is trying to expand his strength beyond the constitutional norms.

Critics of Mr. Netanyahu accused him of shooting Mr. Bar for an investigation into the prime minister’s assistants, and they were accused of leaking the state’s secrets to a foreign newspaper and working with people connected to a foreign government.

Mr. Netanyahu said that Mr. Bar was expelled due to the collapse of confidence between the two men. Mr. Netanyahu’s office also blamed Mr. Bar for lapses early on the morning of October 7, 2023, allowing Cames to launch his attack on Israel on that day and ignite the war in Gaza.

Mr. Bar’s rejection came amid a wider effort by Mr. Netanyahu to reduce the impact of state control.

Last week, the ruling coalition in Israel acknowledged a law in Parliament that would give politicians more control over the choice of the Supreme Court judges. Earlier in March, the cabinet began the launch of the great lawyer for the government, Galle Baharav Mayra, who angered Mr. Netanyahu by questioning the legitimacy and cancellation of government decisions.