Shin Bet Chief Resigns Amid Political Clash

Ronen Bar, the director of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, announced his resignation on Monday, declaring he would leave his post on June 15. The decision follows a bitter public dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had attempted to dismiss him last month—a move temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court.

Bar made the announcement during a memorial ceremony honoring fallen Shin Bet operatives, calling the occasion symbolic of "remembrance, heroism, and sacrifice." He acknowledged the agency’s failure to prevent the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, stating that all public servants involved must "bow their heads humbly before those who were killed, wounded, or taken hostage, and act accordingly."

Escalating Conflict Between Netanyahu and Security Chief

The resignation marks the culmination of a fierce clash between Bar and Netanyahu, which has exposed deepening divisions within Israel’s political and security establishments. In a Supreme Court affidavit last week, Netanyahu accused Bar of lying and bearing "massive and direct responsibility" for the security failures surrounding the October 7 attacks.

Bar, in his own affidavit, countered that his dismissal was politically motivated, alleging that Netanyahu had demanded excessive personal loyalty and ordered the Shin Bet to surveil anti-government protesters—a claim the prime minister dismissed as an "absolute lie."

The confrontation has intensified long-standing tensions between Netanyahu’s right-wing government and critics, including security officials and families of hostages held in Gaza. Protesters have accused the government of undermining democratic institutions, while Netanyahu’s allies have framed Bar’s resistance as insubordination.

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

The resignation drew mixed reactions across Israel’s political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Bar’s decision, stating, "Of those responsible for the greatest failure in the country’s history, only one remains holding on to the chair," in a veiled jab at Netanyahu. Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the departure with a blunt "Good riddance."

President Isaac Herzog commended Bar’s "assumption of responsibility" but called for a formal state inquiry into the October 7 failures.

Bar’s departure leaves the Shin Bet at the center of a broader debate over the independence of Israel’s security agencies. In his final remarks, Bar emphasized that his resignation was not about personal grievances but about ensuring the agency’s future autonomy.

"The court hearing is not about my personal affairs, but about the independence of the next heads of the Shin Bet," he said, vowing to cooperate with any future legal proceedings.

The dispute underscores the widening rift in Israeli society between Netanyahu’s hardline supporters and those demanding accountability—a divide further inflamed by disagreements over the war in Gaza and the fate of remaining hostages.