Israel’s High Court approves compromise on key security appointment

This compromise marks the end of a constitutional standoff sparked by the government’s attempt in March to dismiss former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Sunday approved a compromise between the government and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, resolving months of legal wrangling over the appointment of a new head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

Under the agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will submit his nominee for the position to the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee — also known as the Grunis Committee — within 60 days. The panel will then assess the candidate’s suitability.

The nominee, widely expected to be Maj. Gen. David Zini, will be subject to a conflict of interest arrangement limiting his involvement in these cases unless explicitly authorized by the attorney general.

Until a new permanent chief takes office, the agency will continue to be led by the acting head, known by the codename “S.”

The 60-day delay is intended to allow the Shin Bet to complete its role in two sensitive criminal investigations: the so-called Qatargate affair and a separate probe involving leaked classified documents—both reportedly linked to Netanyahu’s close associates.

This compromise marks the end of a constitutional standoff sparked by the government’s attempt in March to dismiss former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

The High Court ruled in May that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest in the matter due to the agency’s ongoing investigations, and barred him from involvement in selecting Bar’s successor.

Today’s ruling emerged after a separate panel of justices appeared poised to side with petitioners challenging the attorney general’s restrictions — prompting both sides to reach a mediated solution.

Netanyahu and Bar have been blaming each other over what was known before Hamas’ October 7 attack and whether it could have been prevented, as well as the “Qatargate” scandal.

Bar claims that Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss him was influenced by a conflict of interest related to the ongoing investigation. The government argues that Bar should have resigned after the agency completed its internal investigation in March.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, is responsible for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, internal security, VIP protection, and cybersecurity.

The only Shin Bet director to ever leave before the end of his five-year term was Carmi Gillon, who resigned in the aftermath of the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Also on Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation endorsed a controversial bill put forward by Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel.

The legislation would allow incoming governments to fire top public and security officials—including the attorney general, IDF chief of staff, and heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad—within their first 100 days in office. The bill will now advance to a preliminary Knesset reading.

Critics warn the move is part of a broader campaign to consolidate executive power and weaken institutional checks and balances. Supporters argue it would give elected governments greater authority to implement their mandates from day one.