National shutdown by protesters? "The measures will be much harsher and longer"
As tensions rise in the political arena, security officials warn of potential long-term consequences, while opposition leaders call for mass mobilization amid growing concerns over democratic stability and governmental overreach.
Protest organizations failed to immediately bring tens of thousands of demonstrators to the streets tonight in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Instead, they announced a major protest in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Unlike the swift and spontaneous response by protest groups during the attempts to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the first and second "Gallant Night" incidents, this time the reaction to Netanyahu’s intention to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has not been immediate. The lack of instant mass protests may be due to the large number of different protest organizations involved. While they did not manage to mobilize tens of thousands of demonstrators overnight, they have announced an organized response.
Some groups are calling for a unified meeting tomorrow to coordinate efforts, while others are already planning a major protest in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
"Netanyahu Has No Public Mandate to Fire the Shin Bet Chief"
In an urgent statement released by protest organizations, they declared:
"The decision to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar is being made by a man who is in a blatant conflict of interest. His office is under a security investigation for alleged cooperation with Qatar, and a black flag of illegitimacy flies over this decision. Netanyahu has no public mandate to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet. This decision poses a direct and clear threat to Israeli democracy."
The protest groups have announced that on Wednesday, March 19, when the government is scheduled to discuss Bar’s dismissal, they intend to march en masse to the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem and remain there, as well as throughout the city, until the decision is reversed.
Emergency Consultations and Calls for Mass Mobilization
The "Brothers in Arms" organization, along with other leading protest groups, held an emergency consultation tonight to discuss the consequences of what they call "Netanyahu’s reckless move." According to their statement, a crisis summit of all protest leaders will be held tomorrow morning to determine next steps.
At the summit, they will present possible courses of action in what they describe as a struggle against the severe harm to Israel’s security establishment and the investigation into the 'Qatar-Gate' affair.
In their statement, protest leaders called on members of the opposition, business leaders, universities, student unions, labor unions, the high-tech sector, business forums, hospital directors, doctors, and the Histadrut (Israel’s national labor federation) to join the fight.
A Warning of a Dangerous Precedent
At the same time, the "Forum of Generals" is planning an "emergency demonstration" on Tuesday evening at Habima Square in Tel Aviv.
The forum issued a stark warning to the Israeli public:
"The dismissal of the Shin Bet chief and the appointment of a puppet replacement will not only cover up the 'Qatar-Gate' scandal—it will turn Israel into a de facto dictatorship. Under such a scenario, the Shin Bet would become a tool in the hands of the Prime Minister and the ruling party. This would transform Israel into an Iran-style autocracy, where the Shin Bet serves as the regime’s Revolutionary Guard."
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