By Abdelraouf Arnaout and Ahmed Asmar
JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel's Supreme Court issued an injunction Friday to temporarily freeze a decision by the Cabinet to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the internal intelligence service, Shin Bet, triggering outrage from extreme right-wing ministers, according to media reports.
The government unanimously approved Bar’s dismissal -- the first time that the head of Israel’s internal security agency has been removed from office.
Far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was reinstated as national security minister early this week following Israel's resumption of its genocide in the Gaza Strip, slammed the court decision.
"Judicial overhaul now," Ben-Gvir wrote on X.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said the court has no right to interfere in the government's decision to sack Bar.
"You have no legal authority to interfere in this. This is the government’s authority," he said. "Your order is void."
Finance Minister hardliner Bezalel Smotrich criticized the ruling halting Bar's sacking.
"The court will not manage the war or choose its commanders. Period," Smotrich wrote on X.
The Israeli opposition filed an appeal early Friday with the Supreme Court against the decision to dismiss Bar.
Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, said opposition parties Yesh Atid, National Unity and the Democrats submitted the petition, urging the court to issue an order reversing the dismissal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision Sunday to fire Bar, citing “a lack of trust” in him -- part of the fallout from the attack by the Palestinian resistance groups, led by Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023.
Bar has hinted at political motives behind the dismissal, suggesting that Netanyahu’s decision stemmed from his refusal to show “personal loyalty” to the premier.
More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 injured in a surprise aerial campaign by Israel on Gaza since Tuesday, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.
Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 112,000 injured in a brutal Israeli military onslaught in Gaza since October 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.