____________________________________________ 9 IICC Perspectives agency responsibility for maintaining "the democratic regime and its institutions," he warned of a scenario in which the current head of the Shin Bet would be replaced by a Netanyahu loyalist. In such a scenario, the Shin Bet chief might, for example, refrain from intervening in an attempt to prevent elections or use the agency to restrict the opposition. The intelligence community’s relatively strong position, the resilience demonstrated by civil society since the beginning of the judicial upheaval, the relative independence of the Supreme Court, and the fact that, unlike Trump, whose rule is assured until early 2029, Netanyahu’s grip on power is vulnerable to party politics, all strengthen the intelligence community’s ability to withstand these threats. However, the rapid politicization of the American intelligence community in recent months could create a “perfect storm,” providing justification for those in Israel seeking to domesticate the intelligence community for their own purposes. This situation leads to one conclusion: every effort must be made by anyone who recognizes the importance of a professional and high-quality intelligence community to national security to help it withstand the populist threat it currently faces. Only three letters have to be changed… (Times Free Press)
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