Israeli Opposition Calls for General Strike Over Dismissal of Intelligence Chief

(Patria) - The Israeli opposition leader on Saturday called for a general strike if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to comply with the Supreme Court's decision freezing the government's dismissal of the head of internal security, AFP reported.

If the government "decides not to obey the Court's decision, it will become a government outside the law," Yair Lapid told thousands of demonstrators in central Tel Aviv.

"If that happens, the entire country should stop."

"The only system that must not stop is the security system," Lapid added.

The unprecedented move to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has deepened divisions in the country as Israel continues military operations in the Gaza Strip.

State Attorney Gali Baharav-Miara said on Friday that Netanyahu cannot appoint a replacement for Bar, following the Supreme Court's decision.

Netanyahu insisted, in a post on social media platform X, that it is up to the government to decide who will lead the domestic security agency.

"There will be no civil war! The State of Israel is a state of law, and according to the law, the government of Israel decides who will head the Shin Bet," the prime minister said.

He reiterated that stance in a video message on Saturday as the protest in Tel Aviv was underway.

"Ronen Bar will not remain at the head of the Shin Bet," Netanyahu said.

"There will be no civil war, and Israel will remain a democratic state."

Flagrant conflict of interest

Demonstrators spoke of Netanyahu's policies, including the dismissal of Bar, as a threat to Israeli democracy. Lapid spoke at an anti-government rally where demonstrators held signs protesting the war in the Gaza Strip and calling for the release of hostages held there.

The signs read "No more bloodshed" and "Stop the war, now!" to ensure the return of 58 hostages captured on October 7, 2023.

In front of the Ministry of Defense headquarters, Menachem Begin Street was packed from Kaplan Street to King Saul Street, an AFP photographer noted, indicating a crowd of several tens of thousands of people, a very significant national mobilization.

The government will meet today to begin the dismissal process against the state attorney, a vocal Netanyahu critic, citing "long-standing disagreements."
Demonstrations against that dismissal are scheduled for Sunday in front of parliament and near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.