Netanyahu Fires Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Ronen Bar, the director of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, on Friday. The move came days after Netanyahu publicly stated he no longer trusted Bar, following the release of a critical internal report on the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

In a statement, the Israeli government said it had “unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to end ISA Director Ronen Bar’s term of office.” Bar will remain in his position until a successor is appointed or until April 10 at the latest.

Tensions Over Hamas Attack and Judicial Reforms

Bar, who was appointed Shin Bet chief in October 2021 by the previous government, was not due to end his tenure until next year. However, his relationship with Netanyahu had been strained even before the October 7 attack, particularly over the prime minister’s controversial judicial reform proposals, which deeply divided the country.

The situation worsened after the March 4 release of Shin Bet’s internal report on the Hamas attack. The report acknowledged the agency’s failure to prevent the assault but also criticized the government’s “policy of quiet,” which it said allowed Hamas to build up its military capabilities. Bar had previously hinted that he would resign before the end of his term, accepting responsibility for the intelligence failure.

In a statement following his dismissal, Bar warned that Netanyahu’s decision to remove him could jeopardize the investigation into the attack. “The dismissal of the head of the service at this time, at the initiative of the prime minister, sends a message to all those involved—a message that could put the optimal outcome of the investigation at risk,” he said. “This is a direct danger to the security of the State of Israel.”

Netanyahu’s Response and Broader Fallout

Netanyahu’s spokesperson fired back, accusing Bar of “cynically using the families of the kidnapped and politically incorrect use of his position to fabricate futile, unfounded investigations.” The spokesperson added that Bar had the opportunity to retire honorably after the October 7 failure but chose not to attend the government meeting discussing his dismissal.

Bar’s ouster is the latest in a series of high-profile resignations by officials deemed responsible for missteps leading up to the Hamas attack. Notably, Netanyahu himself has not accepted any personal responsibility for what is widely regarded as Israel’s worst security failure.

Shin Bet has also been investigating Netanyahu’s close aides for alleged breaches of national security, including leaking classified documents to foreign media and accepting funds from Qatar, a country known for providing significant financial aid to Hamas.

Former Shin Bet Chief Condemns Dismissal

Yoram Cohen, a former head of Shin Bet, criticized Bar’s dismissal in an interview with Channel 12 on Friday. He alleged that Netanyahu had pressured him to carry out questionable actions during his tenure, including wiretapping top defense officials in 2011 to prevent leaks from sensitive security meetings, according to a report by The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for corruption and faces a potential prison sentence, has served as prime minister for a total of 17 years since first taking office in 1996. The 75-year-old leader has consistently denied wrongdoing in his ongoing legal battles.

The dismissal of Bar underscores the deepening political and security tensions within Israel’s leadership as the country grapples with the aftermath of the October 7 attack and the ongoing war in Gaza.