THE head of Israel’s internal security service has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to exploit the agency for political and personal gain by making numerous improper demands.

In a submission to the Supreme Court om Monday, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar wrote that he had refused a request from Mr Netanyahu to identify anti-government protesters and put their financial backers under surveillance.

Mr Bar added he had been told to obey Mr Netanyahu, not the courts, in the event of a constitutional crisis.