Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on the government Saturday to “stop cooperating” with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar if the High Court of Justice rules that the cabinet’s decision to fire him is invalid.

Levin’s comments to the right-wing Channel 14 television network came days before the High Court is slated to hear petitions against Bar’s dismissal on Tuesday.

“We need to do exactly what we did with [Supreme Court President Isaac] Amit, we won’t cooperate with him, won’t work with him,” Levin said, referring to his boycott of the country’s top justice, who was appointed to his post in January.

Asked whether boycotting the head of Israel’s security agency could weaken the country’s national security, Levin dismissed the notion that it would create a long-term crisis, saying that it “won’t even last a week,” because it would force Bar to “get up and leave,” allowing the government to appoint a successor.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited his lack of trust in Bar as the reason for his dismissal by the cabinet. Netanyahu’s critics have noted that he cooperated........

© The Times of Israel