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.

He also said there had been unsuccessful attempts to force him to sign a document making it nearly impossible for the prime minister to testify in his corruption trial due to security concerns.

Mr Netanyahu’s office dismissed Mr Bar’s affidavit as “full of lies.”

The allegations were part of a feud between Mr Netanyahu and the Shin Bet, which is seen as bearing much of the responsibility for Israel's failure to prevent the Hamas attack of October 7 2023, which triggered massive military retaliation against Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu sought to sack Mr Bar last month, but the Supreme Court froze the dismissal following multiple legal challenges. His affidavit was related to his dismissal.