The effort is part of a dispute between Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance and its opponents about the nature and future of the Israeli state.

Netanyahu’s plan to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has reignited political tensions, defying expectations and exposing deep divisions in Israeli society.

Netanyahu on Sunday cited an “ongoing lack of trust” as the reason for moving to sack Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, following a similar bid by the government to oust the attorney general.