Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government made a historic decision in the early hours of Friday, unanimously voting to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Initially scheduled to leave office on April 20, Bar’s departure has now been moved up to April 10, though he could be removed even earlier if a permanent successor is appointed.
This marks the first instance in Israel’s history where the head of the domestic security agency has been dismissed by the government.
Netanyahu justified the move by expressing a loss of confidence in Bar following the devastating Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
According to Netanyahu, Bar was “soft” and lacked the aggressiveness needed to rehabilitate the Shin Bet.
“I have been managing diplomatic negotiations for many years,” Netanyahu told his cabinet during a late-night session. “He had a soft approach and was not aggressive enough.”
Netanyahu claimed that removing Bar from the hostage negotiation team resulted in fewer leaks and more successful negotiations, which ultimately led to the return of hostages.
However, critics pointed out that the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas was finalized in January, weeks before Bar was removed from the team, and no additional hostages have been secured since then.
Ahead of the vote, Bar refused to attend the cabinet meeting, instead sending a letter criticizing the government’s decision. He accused Netanyahu’s administration of using “unfounded claims” as a pretext to disrupt the Shin Bet’s operations.
Bar warned that Netanyahu’s actions were weakening Israel “both internally and against its enemies.”
He emphasized that he and Netanyahu had collaborated effectively on securing January’s hostage deal and military successes on multiple fronts, contradicting the prime minister’s assertion that there was no trust between them.
He further alleged that his dismissal was linked to an ongoing high-profile investigation into Qatar’s influence within Israel’s government, referred to as “Qatargate.”
Bar insisted that ensuring the investigation’s completion was “a public duty of the highest order” and suggested that his removal was tainted by “extraneous considerations” and conflicts of interest that could endanger national security.
Bar also renewed his call for a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7 attack, arguing that the investigation “cannot be subordinated to the personal considerations of those involved.”
The government’s decision to fire Bar sparked immediate backlash, with critics arguing the move was politically motivated.
An Israeli official, whom Channel 12 identified as Netanyahu himself, accused Bar of failing to act despite allegedly having prior knowledge of the Hamas attack.
“Ronen Bar preferred not to attend the government meeting dealing with his case simply because he was afraid of giving answers,” the official stated. “And especially of answering one question, why, after you knew about the Hamas attack many hours before it happened, did you do nothing and did not call the Prime Minister—something that would have prevented the disaster?”
Netanyahu has faced ongoing criticism for deflecting blame for the intelligence failure, arguing that he was unaware of the warning signs before the attack.
His administration has sought to shift responsibility to the security establishment, despite Netanyahu’s long-standing policy of managing relations with Hamas through economic incentives such as Qatari funds and work permits.
A Channel 12 poll found that 51% of Israelis opposed Bar’s dismissal, compared to 32% who supported it. Additionally, 46% of respondents said they trusted Bar more than Netanyahu, while 32% expressed greater trust in the prime minister.
Supporters of the dismissal, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, argued that Bar was accountable for the October 7 failure, a responsibility that other senior security officials had already resigned over.
“The main reason as to why I will vote in favor of removing the head of the Shin Bet from his position is his responsibility for the October 7th failure, a responsibility that he explicitly acknowledged,” Sa’ar stated.
Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, himself a former Shin Bet chief, highlighted the necessity of trust between the prime minister and the agency’s leader.
“In a situation of a lack of confidence, there are two options: either the Shin Bet chief resigns, or he is fired. And if he does not resign, then he is fired,” Dichter said.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure previously convicted of incitement, labeled Bar a “direct threat to democracy.” Ben Gvir has long criticized Bar for warning about settler violence and for his handling of sensitive issues such as tensions at the Temple Mount.
Shortly after the cabinet’s decision, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel announced it had petitioned the High Court of Justice to challenge the dismissal. Opposition leaders condemned the vote, with National Unity leader Benny Gantz calling it a “mark of Cain” on the ministers who approved it.
“The dismissal of the Shin Bet chief for political reasons is a mark of Cain on every government minister who raised his hand tonight, and will be remembered with eternal shame,” Gantz said.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of firing Bar to derail the Qatar-linked corruption probe.
“The government is dismissing Bar for one reason alone: To stop the Qatargate investigation,” Lapid asserted. “Opposition parties will together appeal this reckless step that is meant to whitewash a hostile state’s penetration into the prime minister’s office.”
The decision also triggered mass protests across Israel, with demonstrators fearing Netanyahu was consolidating control over the country’s security agencies.
Thousands took to the streets outside Netanyahu’s office on Thursday night, chanting, “We will never give up.” Police clashed with protesters, using water cannons and forcibly removing vehicles blocking government buildings.
Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, who attended the meeting and opposed Bar’s dismissal, had previously warned Netanyahu that he could not fire the Shin Bet chief without legal justification.
Reports suggested the government may now be planning a similar move against Baharav-Miara, with discussions on her removal possibly taking place as early as Sunday.
Although Bar had previously indicated a willingness to step down due to his agency’s failure to anticipate the October 7 attack, he had resisted Netanyahu’s efforts to remove him, arguing that doing so would allow the prime minister to appoint a loyalist.
Bar reportedly intended to remain in his position until all hostages were released and an official inquiry into the October 7 failures was established.
However, with the government now actively seeking his replacement, potential candidates include the Shin Bet’s recently departed deputy chief, known only as “Mem,” and “Resh,” another former contender for the role. Former senior Shin Bet official Shalom Ben Hanan is also reportedly under consideration.
