Netanyahu’s push to fire Israel’s domestic security chief sparks an uproar

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s has fired or forced out a string of top officials since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza. The country’s domestic security chief is the newest target.

Netanyahu says he is motivated by a crisis of confidence and a need to get rid of officials who failed to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, disaster.

But Netanyahu’s many critics say the dismissals are part of a broader campaign aimed at undermining independent government institutions.