The Israeli prime minister's efforts to remove the Shin Bet chief have raised concerns about whether he was trying to undermine the agency's independence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he was taking steps to remove the director of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence service, raising concerns among critics that he was trying to undermine its independence.
Mr Netanyahu's move to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the powerful agency, underscored long-running tensions between the prime minister and leading members of Israel's security services, who have clashed over the conduct of the war in Gaza.
The decision to seek Mr. Bar's dismissal also comes amid a Shin Bet investigation into allegations against several Netanyahu aides, including one of them being accused of leaking a classified document to a foreign newspaper.
The Prime Minister's Office said Mr. Netanyahu informed Mr. Bar that a draft resolution calling for his resignation would be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for approval this week.
But in a letter, Gali Baharav-Miara, the attorney general, said Mr. Netanyahu was not allowed to even begin the process until a decision was made on the legality of Mr. Bar's dismissal. She said there were concerns it would be a conflict of interest for Mr. Netanyahu.
Members of Mr. Netanyahu's coalition have demanded that the prime minister fire Mr. Bar for what they say is undermining the prime minister. They have also called for the dismissal of Ms. Baharav-Miara, who has long had a tense relationship with Mr. Netanyahu.
