The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar's allegation that Netanyahu pressured him to influence judges in the corruption case against him.
In his letter to high court judges, Bar said Netanyahu asked him to tell judges not to invite the prime minister to testify in his trial. "The prime minister spoke with the Shin Bet about ways to allow his testimony in court in light of the missile threats against Israel and against the prime minister in particular," the office said in a statement.
Netanyahu previously dismissed Bar from his post, triggering protests in Israel and prompting accusations of interference with the internal security service's independence.
