Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security service, following criticism over the agency’s failure to predict the deadly Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.
The Israeli cabinet formally approved Bar’s early dismissal on Thursday after Netanyahu announced his intent to sack the Shin Bet chief on Sunday, citing a growing “distrust” between the two men. The move has sparked widespread protests, with thousands of Israelis joining demonstrations against the government’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This is the first time in Israel’s history that the government has removed the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, which plays a pivotal role in national security.
Netanyahu’s letter to his cabinet highlighted a “persistent loss of professional and personal trust” with Bar, especially during the war that erupted following the October Hamas attack. While Netanyahu’s office insists the decision is based on operational failures, Bar views the move as politically motivated, particularly after an ongoing investigation into Netanyahu’s ties to Qatar.
Bar, who did not attend the cabinet meeting, has called the dismissal a “conflict of interest,” with the investigation into Netanyahu’s office potentially influencing the decision. The Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has ordered investigations into Netanyahu’s office over the allegations.
