Amid mass protests, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informs Friday, March 21, far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is prohibited from appointing a new head of the Internal Security Service (Shin Bet) or even conducting interviews for the job, following the High Court of Justice injunction earlier today suspending the government’s decision to dismiss the security chief.
Baharav-Miara, who the government is also seeking to fire, says in a letter to Netanyahu that her instructions even include a bar on appointing a temporary head of the service. Her instructions will likely remain in effect until the High Court makes a final ruling on the issue, although she does not stipulate a timeframe in her letter. The letter comes as Netanyahu critics fear that the premier will ignore the court injunction and proceed with appointing a replacement for Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who the far-right government voted to fire last night.
Peace Partnership demonstration in front of European Union embassy in Ramat Gan, against the deadly war in Gaza and demanding the recognition of the State of Palestine, Thursday evening, March 20, 2025 (Photo: Zo Haderekh)
Histadrut labor union chief Arnon Bar-David warns that he won’t sit idly if the government doesn’t abide by High Court rulings after ministers dismissed the injunction issued by the top legal body. However, Bar-David doesn’t explicitly say that he’ll launch a labor strike if the government ignores the High Court, but that appears to be the implication of his statement. “I expect the Israeli government to uphold and respect every decision of the court, just as the government expects from its citizens, the Histadrut, and other organizations. The State of Israel is a country of law, and the government is not above the law,” Bar-David says in a statement. “We are on the verge of anarchy under the auspices of the government, and I will not give in to the destruction of Israeli society,” added.
Earlier, the Israel Business Forum, which represents the big 200 employers of the country, warns that it will “shut down the Israeli economy” if the government does not respect the High Court of Justice’s temporary injunction. “If the Israeli government does not honor the order and leads Israel into a constitutional crisis, we will call on the entire Israeli public to stop respecting the government’s decisions and we will shut down the Israeli economy,” it says.
During the last three days, tens of thousands protesting against the far-right government. Thursday evening, they marched to the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem. Police violently blocked them from crossing the barricade, knocking them to the ground. An officer was filmed pushing Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan to the ground
The protesters, who marched from the Government Complex, were stopped a few hundred feet from the house by police, who set up barriers surrounding the house. The protesters attempted to break through the barriers, and police used force to prevent them from advancing by deploying a ‘skunk’ water cannon at them.
MK Gilad Kariv (Labor) issued a statement saying that police deliberately targeted members of Knesset and other political leaders in the protests. He called on other opposition party leaders and Knesset members to “stand firm against the hostile takeover of the police” and join the protests. “Now is the time for action, not just tweets,” he said. Also, Hadash MK Ayman Odeh called at the Knesset plenum the “Arab population of Israel to go into the streets with the rest of the citizens until this fascist government is overthrown.” “I vehemently condemn police violence against Yair Golan. When the police allow itself to forcefully put down Arab and anti-war protests that behavior reaches everyone. We must fight for democracy together!” added.
The hostages’ families and their supporters are protesting next week in central Tel Aviv in front of the army headquarters, calling for an end to the Gaza war and the immediate release of the captives. “The government is executing the hostages, Netanyahu decided to bring racist Ben-Gvir back instead of bring the hostages back,” the protests’ leadership said in a statement on Thursday. “The renewal of fighting is a death sentence to the hostages,” the statement added. “War isn’t bringing the hostages back, the military pressure is killing them and at least 41 people have paid for it with their lives. How many more will the price be?”
In addition, the Peace Partnership activists, among them Hadash members, held Thursday evening, a demonstration in front of European Union embassy in Ramat Gan, against the deadly war in Gaza and “demanding the recognition of the State of Palestine state now!”. According to the coalition, “No people can be free and safe as long as they occupy and oppress another people. The denial of the Palestinians’ national rights has been the policy of Israeli governments over many years.” Other protests against war in Gaza were held Thursday evening in Jerusalem and Friday afternoon at Kfar Yasif junction in Western Galilee, near the border with Lebanon.
On Tuesday evening, Police in Jerusalem violently dispersed a demonstration of hundreds of activists from Partnership for Peace, Hadash, Free Jerusalem and other organizations who were protesting against occupation and the resumption of the war. Officers kicked protesters, forcibly dragged them and tore signs and drums from their hands, ripping and breaking some of them. One police officer kicked a leading Hadash activist in the head, and some protesters were wounded.
Three people were arrested on Tuesday evening as hundreds of people protested the renewal of the fighting in two demonstrations in Haifa. Police forcibly dispersed the protesters at the German Colony. Haifa cops snatched signs and banners and attacked protestors, and at least one was beaten brutally during her arrest. During the protest Hadash chair, former MK Issam Makhoul said “The fascist government is now pursuing a policy of genocide and starvation against the people of Gaza, it’s a war crime. Netanyahu has broken the deal with Hamas and its stated commitment to negotiate a second phase. Netanyahu and Trump want a forever war.” Other demonstrations against war and occupation were held at Tel-Aviv, near the army headquarters in Begin Street and Beer Sheva.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32537
