Israelis should engage in civil disobedience, says former spy chief

A former director of Israel’s Shin Bet security service has called on the Israeli public to engage in civil disobedience, saying that the country is facing “the most profound constitutional crisis” since its creation in 1948. Ami Ayalon’s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

“If we, as citizens, do not agree with breaking the law, then we are not doing what is necessary. The term ‘civil disobedience’ has accompanied all democracies, most notably from the time of slavery in the United States to the present day. When we see that the government is acting against the people, that is a rogue government,” Ayalon told the Ynet website.

“I call on citizens to take to the streets and have their say. I say that when the government breaks the law, the term civil disobedience means that the law is our red line. And our red line is violence. Beyond that, we have a role. Democracy belongs to us, not to the government. If we don’t realise that loyalty to the king doesn’t precede loyalty to the kingdom, we won’t be willing to pay the price,” he added.

As citizens, said the former spy chief, Israelis must be convinced by taking to the streets that soldiers are being sent to a war that has no political purpose. “Some of them return in coffins. We know that this war will not bring back the kidnapped soldiers, nor will it defeat Hamas. We must create an alternative to exist within the vacuum they are creating.”

Last week, another former Shin Bet chief, Nadav Argaman, threatened to reveal undisclosed information about Netanyahu if the latter acted against the law. Netanyahu subsequently filed a complaint against him with the police commissioner, who duly ordered an investigation into Argaman.

“I know many prime ministers who have always wanted greater governance and more power,” said Ayalon. “Therefore, the question is what the head of the Shin Bet should do. On the one hand, he is subservient to the prime minister, and on the other, his loyalty is to the democratic system. This leads to structural tension, and this is the tension facing Ronen Bar.”

According to yet another former Shin Bet director, Yaakov Peri, Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bar is based on a “personal loyalty” issue.

Israel’s Attorney General, meanwhile, is reported to have said that Netanyahu could not dismiss the head of the internal intelligence service “until the factual and legal basis underlying [the] decision is fully examined, as well as [his] authority to address the matter at this time.” Gali Baharav-Miara added that “The role of the head of the Shin Bet is not a personal trust position of the prime minister.”

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