Day 536 - Govt, high court and AG face off on Shin Bet chief

Mar 25, 2025

Jeremy Sharon, a legal reporter with expertise in Israeli issues, discusses the government's contentious decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and the resulting legal challenges. He analyzes the implications for law enforcement and the political landscape. Rossella Tercatin, an archaeology and religions reporter, shares fascinating insights from recent excavations under the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revealing ancient agricultural practices and exploring a poll about sexual education in religious schools, shedding light on unexpected teen behaviors.

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INSIGHT

Government Argues Against High Court Intervention

The Israeli government claims the High Court shouldn't intervene in security matters like the Shin Bet chief's firing.
They argue the court lacks expertise and that the prime minister can't be forced to work with someone he distrusts.

INSIGHT

Attorney General's Concerns

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara believes the Shin Bet chief's firing was unlawful and politically motivated.
She argues this will negatively impact law enforcement's independent authority.

INSIGHT

Shin Bet Probe into Police Infiltration

The Shin Bet probed potential infiltration of extremist Kahanist elements into the Israeli police force under Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Concerns arose due to Ben-Gvir's association with far-right figures and alleged police cover-ups of extremist attacks.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Legal reporter Jeremy Sharon and archaeological and religions reporter Rossella Tercatin join host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing.

Following the cabinet decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, various opposition political parties and legal organizations filed petitions against the decision in Israel's High Court. Sharon discusses the government's response to the petitions and its stance that the court should not interfere in the decision to fire Bar.

Sharon also reviews Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's reaction to the government decision and her view that the firing will have implications for the functioning of law enforcement and the Shin Bet in the future.

The Shin Bet is also conducting a covert probe into the possible infiltration of extreme-right elements into the Israel Police and Sharon discusses the existence of Kahanist elements in National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's party that led to the probe.

Tercatin looks at a recent archaeological discovery that grapevines and olive trees may have once grown on the land under the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, with evidence being uncovered of agricultural tools, pottery, and new technologies that can research pollen remains and seeds that relate to the time of Jesus.

She also discusses a poll of high school teens from religous Zionist high schools regarding sexual activity, leading to the researcher's determination that there's a need for more openly discussing sex with religious teens.

Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Government tells the High Court it can’t be forced to work with Shin Bet chief it doesn’t trust

Report: Shin Bet covertly probed Kahanist infiltration into police under Ben Gvir

Echoing Gospel account, traces of ancient garden found under Church of Holy Sepulchre

Poll showing religious teens are sexually active sparks rethink of when to have the talk

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Protestors march toward the Knesset on March 25, 2025, holding a banner that reads, 'Guarding democracy' (Credit Yair Palti/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

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