 "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem. File Image / Reuters")
Over 60 per cent of Israelis are now fearing for their country’s democracy amid an unfolding tussle between the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chief of the Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar.
Earlier on Friday (March 21), Israel’s Supreme Court blocked a cabinet decision to sack Bar until it hears petitions filed by the opposition and an NGO against the dismissal.
It is to be noted that Shin Bet is investigating some of the close aides of PM Netanyahu for allegedly taking money from Qatar and leaking classified documents to foreign media.
Poll findings
Now, a survey conducted by the iPanel and Midgam polling firms have revealed that 63 per cent of the respondents were worried about the future of Israel’s democracy. Only 33 per cent of people said they were happy about the health of the country’s democracy.
Interestingly, nearly 40 per cent of the people who voted for parties in ruling coalition also agreed that their democracy was in danger.
Warning by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara
Amid the ongoing tussle between Netanyahu cabinet and Ronen Bar, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has warned that the government may face several legal challenges in days to come.
Baharav-Miara, whom the government also wants to fire, said owing to the court’s order, the Netanyahu government is barred from appointing a new head of the Shin Bet, or even conducting interviews for the job.
Court’s, Attorney General’s approval rating higher than govt’s
Meanwhile, another survey, conducted by Reichman University’s Institute for Liberty and Responsibility, has revealed that Israelis had more faith in the country’s Supreme Court and the Attorney General than the government itself.
The survey found that 44 per cent of people had faith in the Supreme Court, and 43 per cent said they trusted the Attorney General; way higher than the Netanyahu government’s approval rating of just 17 per cent.
March marked the second consecutive month in which the Institute’s poll found public trust in the Supreme Court and the attorney general to be more than twice as high as trust in the government.
(With inputs from agencies)