Opposition parties are set to petition the High Court of Justice against the dismissal of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar, opposition head Yair Lapid said in a press conference ahead of his Yesh Atid party’s weekly meeting on Monday.
Lapid argued that Netanyahu’s decision to fire Bar came because its “clear purpose” was to “sabotage the severe criminal investigation into national security offenses committed in his office.”
The decision was made during a meeting between the heads of the opposition parties earlier on Monday in the Knesset to coordinate parliamentary and extra-parliamentary activity against the government, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday that he had decided to fire Shin Bet chair Ronen Bar.
The party leaders who participated in the meeting included opposition leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), National Unity chairman MK Benny Gantz, and Democrats chairman Yair Golan. Lapid met with Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman earlier on Monday as Liberman was touring Ariel University at the appointed hour.
Prior to the meeting, Golan posted on X, "To my fellow opposition leaders, I must say—this is the moment of truth. There is no longer room for compromises or petty political calculations. We must unite now and be a solid wall against Netanyahu's attempts to dismantle democratic Israel. This is what is expected of us—and this is our responsibility."
האיום הקיומי הגדול ביותר על ישראל הוא לא חיצוני הוא פנימי והוא נתניהו עצמו. הוא מפטר את ראש השב״כ כי הוא מפחד ממה שייחשף בקטארגייט. נתניהו יודע שזה או הוא או מדינת ישראל הדמוקרטית. אנחנו נילחם ונוכיח שמדינת ישראל הדמוקרטית חזקה ממנו!
— Yair Golan - יאיר גולן (@YairGolan1) March 17, 2025
Golan later expressed support in Tel Aviv University chairman Prof. Ariel Porat, who announced that the university would join protests if Netanyahu went forward with the move.
Golan wrote on X, "This is a decisive moment—politicians, educators, organization leaders, and protest leaders—we must all be at the forefront of the struggle, set an example, and serve as a model of courage and democracy for their students.”
לחבריי ראשי האופוזיציה אני חייב לומר - זהו רגע האמת. אין יותר מקום לפשרות ולחשבונות פוליטיים קטנים. עלינו להתאחד עכשיו ולהיות חומה בצורה מול הניסיונות של נתניהו לחסל את ישראל הדמוקרטית. זה מה שמצופה מאיתנו - וזו האחריות שלנו.
— Yair Golan - יאיר גולן (@YairGolan1) March 17, 2025
“We call on additional public leaders to join the initiative. We will not allow Netanyahu to eliminate the gatekeepers—together we will fight, and we will win," Golan wrote.