Shin Bet chief Bar claims he was fired for refusing to pledge loyalty to Netanyahu

The director of Israel's internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, has alleged that Benjamin Netanyahu fired him for refusing to pledge his loyalty to the prime minister over the courts and use the agency to spy on anti-government protesters.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen Jerusalem

The battle between Netanyahu and Ronen Bar has pushed Israel to the brink of a constitutional crisis after the supreme court blocked a decision by Israel's cabinet to dismiss Bar - the first Shin Bet head ever to be fired.

Bar had alleged that the decision to fire him was driven by Netanyahu's "personal interests". Yesterday, Bar submitted an 11-page affidavit to the supreme court, which halted his firing last month, detailing his version of events that led to the breakdown of his relationship with Netanyahu.

Among its most serious allegations was the claim that "on several occasions" Netanyahu explicitly told Shin Bet to conduct surveillance on citizens involved in anti-government protests, which Bar refused.

Bar said the prime minister demanded the agency "provide details regarding the identities of Israeli citizens, protest activists" involved in demonstrations against the government, and monitor those deemed to be "protest funders".

Bar also alleged Netanyahu had made clear to him that in a constitutional crisis, his loyalty must be to the prime minister and not the high court of justice. He said "an effort was made to coerce me" to sign a document that would have helped Netanyahu avoid publicly testifying in court in a corruption case against him.