Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the dismissal of Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, following growing tensions and a controversial report on the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Israeli government confirmed Netanyahu’s proposal to terminate Bar’s tenure, citing a “lack of trust” as the main reason for the decision. Bar will leave his position by April 10, or once a successor is appointed. Bar had been set to serve until next year, having been appointed Shin Bet chief in October 2021.
Bar’s dismissal came after a March 4 internal Shin Bet report revealed the agency’s failure to prevent the Hamas attack, noting that a “policy of quiet” allowed Hamas to strengthen militarily.
The fallout from the report, which highlighted significant lapses within the agency, fueled tensions between Bar and Netanyahu, particularly regarding proposed judicial reforms that had divided the country.
In a statement issued before his dismissal, Bar suggested that Netanyahu’s true motives were not related to professional concerns but rather to suppress investigations into matters such as “Qatargate,” a controversial case involving people close to Netanyahu allegedly receiving money from Qatar.
Bar’s firing has sparked backlash from the opposition, with protests erupting outside Netanyahu’s residence and the Israeli parliament, accusing the Prime Minister of undermining democracy. Additionally, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed concerns that Netanyahu’s actions could damage the country’s “national resilience” during the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
