Israel’s highest court began hearing a case on Tuesday over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to replace one of his top intelligence chiefs — a courtroom battle that could open the door to a constitutional crisis.

The attempt to fire Ronen Bar, the chief of the Shin Bet, has further polarized an already divided Israel. Supporters of the government view Mr. Bar as disloyal to Mr. Netanyahu, and critics consider his removal a dangerous precedent that undermines the independence of democratic institutions.

The hearing, which was being broadcast live in Israel, opened with unruly scenes, as hecklers forced a Supreme Court panel to pause the proceedings and resume them without a public audience. The hearing was likely to last much of the day, and a ruling was not expected on Tuesday.

Here’s what to know about the court case dominating the headlines in Israel today.

What’s the case?

Last month, Mr. Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security service, saying he no longer trusted him. Critics say Mr. Netanyahu fired Mr. Bar in an attempt to seize greater power by purging a dissenting voice from Israel’s security establishment.

As head of the Shin Bet, Mr. Bar helped spearhead Israel’s war in Gaza and oversee the decades-long occupation of the West Bank. He was also one of a handful of senior officials who led the cease-fire negotiations with Hamas to release the dozens of hostages seized during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.