‘Kingdom’
is Collapsing – Israeli Newspapers on Civil War, Netanyahu’s Dictatorship
March 17, 2025 Articles, Features
By Palestine Chronicle Staff
Israeli
analysts warn that Netanyahu’s dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar is leading
Israel towards a civil war and potential dictatorship.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to
dismiss Shin Bet (Shabak) chief Ronen Bar has captured the attention of many
political and military analysts in Israeli newspapers, many of whom have issued
warnings about an impending larger crisis.
Most articles collectively suggest that this decision, which
will be presented to the government if judicial petitions fail to stop it,
could lead to internal divisions described by some as civil war.
One obvious outcome is that the firing of Bar will also
strengthen Netanyahu’s grip on the government and its agencies, with some
analysts warning against the potential transformation of Israel into an
outright dictatorship.
Civil War
Prominent military analyst Nahum Barnea concluded in an
article in the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that the confrontation
between Netanyahu and Bar is bringing Israel closer to a form of civil war.
Barnea states in the opening of his article, “Israeli
society, from reserve soldiers on the Gaza border to Supreme Court judges and
media commentators, is divided under the current regime into two groups: those
who are convinced that we live in a normal world… and those who believe that
Netanyahu and his surrounding clique have broken all the rules. It is clear
that Ronen Bar belongs to the second group.”
He adds,
“Ronen Bar is an impressive man with extraordinary
abilities. Israel might have benefited had he been prime minister, but
Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss him has sparked a dangerous conflict that brings
us closer to a form of civil war—currently without weapons, but we’ve reached a
stage of lost trust and insurrection in the security agencies.”
Barnea questions the distinction made by the Shin Bet head
between what he called the Kingdom (Israel) and the King (the prime minister),
saying that “in the case of Shin Bet, this distinction is problematic because
the role of the organization is to protect the kingdom, the king, the queen,
and the prince.”
While discussing the widening gap between Netanyahu, who
believes in the existence of a deep state conspiring against him, and Bar, who
worked to promote a prisoner swap deal before being excluded from the
negotiation team, Barnea suggests that their conflict will end with the
appointment of a new Shin Bet head. He believes Netanyahu wants to repeat US
President Donald Trump’s approach to cement loyalty to himself in Israel.
The military analyst concludes his article by saying that
subsequent dismissals of figures like the government’s legal adviser Gali
Baharav-Miara and Supreme Court Judge Isaac Amit will follow. “The prime
minister has lost his brakes and will rule as he pleases,” he wrote.
Building a
Dictatorship
While prominent political writer Ben Caspit, in his article
in the Maariv newspaper, highlights the role played by National Security
Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who welcomed the decision to dismiss Bar, he
emphasizes that the decision came after long-standing tensions with Netanyahu
regarding Shin Bet’s opposition to the government’s policy, including its
handling of violence by settlers in the West Bank and concerns about its impact
on Israel’s national security.
The writer sharply criticizes Netanyahu in another article
in the paper, warning that Netanyahu’s actions will turn Israel into a
dictatorship.
“The man (Netanyahu-PC) is in a state of frenzy. The insight
he gained from his last visit to the United States is that whatever Donald
Trump does, he can do better,” he wrote. “Instead of discussing hostages held
in Hamas tunnels or the stalled deal not being implemented, Netanyahu delivered
a ‘loyalty speech’ with a simple task: anyone who is not personally loyal to
Netanyahu will not be in the government.”
He continues,
“This is the final stage in transforming Israel, once a
Western parliamentary democracy, into a dark Middle Eastern dictatorship, where
loyalty is to the king, not the kingdom. Those who do not swear by the wife,
son, and Holy Spirit will be cast to the wind. It’s that simple.”
He adds,
“Netanyahu has undermined all the institutions and symbols
of the collapsed Israeli kingdom. Even though his responsibility for October
7th (2023) is clear and absolute as prime minister, he neither apologizes nor
bows his head, and he’s unwilling to go to the voters as any other leader would
after such an event. He is not willing to establish a government investigation
committee that includes judges.”
The writer continues his attack on Netanyahu, describing him
as “the unicorn in a porcelain shop,” and adds, “Netanyahu has not only been
incapable for a long time, but he is the mother of all the incapable.
Essentially, Netanyahu is launching an autoimmune attack on the country he
claims to lead, and it will soon lead to the collapse of the body.”
He ends his article by calling on the Israeli streets to
protest against Netanyahu’s government, asserting that the government has no
moral legitimacy. “We will not have another chance to save this country. We are
in unprecedented, fateful days,” he concludes.
Controlling
the Shin Bet
Meanwhile, a military analyst for Haaretz, Amos Harel, views
Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bar as an attempt to take control of Shin Bet
by appointing a loyalist in his place. He argues that the future of Israel’s
democracy depends on the Attorney General’s Office and the Supreme Court, which
have the power to stop the decision, and public awareness.
Harel writes,
“After nearly a year and a half since the October 7 attack,
Benjamin Netanyahu is still (politically-PC) alive. He hasn’t just survived; he
dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi
resigned over it, and now he intends to add Shin Bet head Ronen Bar to the
list.”
The military analyst believes Netanyahu is acting as if he
has nothing to lose, escalating the conflict to a point of chaos that serves
his interests. He believes that Netanyahu will soon overcome a major obstacle
in passing the state budget before the end of the month, with his escalation
against the security agencies and the judiciary benefiting his partners in the
religious Zionism and Haredi sectors.
According to Harel, Netanyahu won’t be satisfied with
removing Bar from his path. If he sees a good chance of success, he is likely
to try to appoint a loyalist in his place who will follow all of Netanyahu’s
instructions, regardless of their legal soundness.
He concludes, “If Netanyahu succeeds in removing Bar now, he
will be closer to a complete and dangerous takeover of the Shin Bet.”
Although all public opinion polls show widespread popular
support for Netanyahu’s resignation, early elections, and the establishment of
a government inquiry committee, Harel believes that the prime minister is
determined to thwart all efforts against him. His patience and political acumen
have kept him in power to this day, contrary to most expectations after October
7.
The Kingdom
of Netanyahu
Finally, military correspondent for Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi,
concludes that Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bar is “a step towards changing
the character of the State of Israel and building an Israeli dictatorship.”
While calling for all heads of the security and military
establishment to resign for their failure on October 7, Ashkenazi states, “The
prime minister cannot be above everything. He will not be obliged to provide
explanations and will prevent a real investigation by a commission of inquiry
into the largest disaster in the country’s history.”
He adds, “In a civilized country, the prime minister would
have dissolved the government, presented himself to the electorate, and created
a government inquiry committee, without tricks and evasions. The recent
decisions lead Israel towards a coup, both governmental and institutional in
nature, endangering the freedom of Israeli citizens, freedom of expression, and
making Israel a worse place.”
(AJA, PC, Israeli Media)
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