• Israel's Supreme Court ruled the firing of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar as "unlawful."
• The decision highlighted improper procedures and a conflict of interest involving Prime Minister Netanyahu.
• Mass protests erupted following Bar's dismissal, viewed as autocratic by opposition groups.
• Netanyahu's government had earlier revoked the firing decision after Bar announced his resignation.
• The court's ruling noted "irregularities" and "disregard for fundamental principles" of internal security.

Israel's Supreme Court ruled on May 21 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dismiss domestic security chief Ronen Bar was "unlawful." The ruling stems from significant tensions following Bar's proposed termination in March, which led to widespread protests across the nation, highlighting concerns over perceived autocratic governance by Netanyahu's administration, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The Supreme Court highlighted several irregularities in the dismissal process, emphasizing that Bar was not given a formal hearing before the firing decision was made. The court also pointed out a conflict of interest regarding Netanyahu, who was implicated in ongoing investigations involving his close aides amid the so-called "QatarGate" scandal. This context raised serious concerns about the motivations behind Bar's dismissal, as Netanyahu alleged a breach of trust related to the security failures surrounding the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, according to AA and Dawn.

Amid these developments, Bar's resignation announcement was interpreted as a culmination of the tensions between him and Netanyahu. The Supreme Court ruled that this announcement effectively concluded the legal proceedings regarding his firing, while Netanyahu's government attempted to assert control over the appointment of Bar's successor despite legal constraints imposed by the Attorney General, as noted by Le Monde, Al Jazeera, and AA.