Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sacked the head of the nation’s security service over its failure to anticipate the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.
The Israeli cabinet convened on Thursday evening to formally approve Ronen Bar’s early dismissal as Shin Bet chairman. Bar was appointed in October 2021 for a five-year term.
In a video statement released on Sunday, Netanyahu revealed his plan to fire Mr Bar, noting an “ongoing distrust” between the two men that had “grown over time”.
The move prompted outrage and fuelled anti-government protests in Jerusalem, where thousands of Israelis joined forces with protestors opposed to Israel’s fresh assault on Gaza.
For the first time in Israeli history, a government has fired the Shin Bet’s leader.
A letter written by Netanyahu to members of his administration before the meeting referred to a “persistent loss of professional and personal trust” between the prime minister and Mr Bar and requested that his tenure end on 20 April.
“The loss of professional trust has been consolidated during the war, beyond the operational failure of 7 October [2023], and in particular in recent months,” it said, referring to the Hamas attacks on Israel which sparked the Israel-Gaza war.
The Shin Bet is Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, and it plays an important role in the conflict. Its operations and membership are closely guarded state secrets.
However, Mr Bar has branded the move to depose him as politically motivated.
The Times of Israel stated that Mr Bar did not attend the cabinet vote but submitted a letter arguing that removing him was “entirely tainted by conflicts of interest” while the Shin Bet probes the Prime Minister’s Office over claims of “Qatar’s involvement in the heart of Israeli decision-making”.
Late last month, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara directed the police and Shin Bet to investigate officials in Netanyahu’s administration for possible financial ties to Qatar. A gag order has since been imposed on all information related to the probe. Netanyahu’s Likud Party has denied all charges.
Ms Baharav-Miara, a strong critic of Netanyahu who is also facing dismissal proceedings, claimed that Mr Bar could not be fired until the legality of the move was determined.
