Arnon Bar-David: Disregarding Supreme Court would cross a red line for democracy

On the eve of a critical Supreme Court hearing regarding the potential dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David made it clear that failure to follow court rulings would cross a “red line” that could prompt serious action.

Speaking at the “People of the State” conference hosted by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Bar-David said, “We are living in crazy times. The war isn’t over—we still have 59 hostages in Gaza. Every day brings a new crisis. Things aren’t being handled properly.”

Bar-David was especially troubled by reports suggesting that some ministers—and possibly the Prime Minister’s Office—might ignore the Supreme Court. “That’s a red line for me,” he said. “If we don’t follow court rulings, we no longer have a democracy.”

He added, “This isn’t just about appointing the Shin Bet head. Everyone understands what’s at stake. I believe even the Prime Minister’s Office knows that disobeying the court is unacceptable.”

Bar-David also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying, “Since the judicial overhaul, he lost me. In March 2023, I called on him to take responsibility—form a state commission of inquiry, unify the country. Instead, he’s doing terrible damage.”

Asked about the possibility of a general strike, Bar-David said it remains a last resort. “A strike won’t fix things on its own. If it could, we’d have already done it. It’s the final bullet in the chamber—and I’m saving it for if the government refuses to obey the Supreme Court.”

On whether the Histadrut should stay out of politics, Bar-David said, “This organization helped found the state. We fight for a just society. I’ll speak out whenever democracy is under threat—when Defense Minister Gallant was fired, I spoke up. When the hostages were ignored, I raised my voice. I have to be able to look in the mirror and say I did what’s right for the country, and for the economy. If the judicial coup continues, investors will flee. If the court is undermined, our credit rating will drop. The economy is hanging by a thread.”

Bar-David also addressed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s claim that the government was elected to implement its ideology. “What ideology? Attacking the courts? Weakening the Shin Bet? Dividing the people? That’s not leadership. Even right-wing ideology should be carried out responsibly.”

When asked to grade Smotrich’s performance as Finance Minister, Bar-David said, “Surprisingly, we work well together, even though we come from opposite sides.” Pressed further, he added, “He’s made a lot of mistakes and is being blocked on reforms. He tried to reduce ministries in the last budget and failed. There’s a lot he’s not doing.”

So, does he get a passing grade?

Bar-David smiled and said, “Don’t complicate things. I know how to work with him.”

Originally published in Hebrew on YNET