In the midst of a government meeting held last night (between Thursday and Friday), a unanimous decision was made to bring about the dismissal of Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar from his position. The decision came after a prolonged period of tension between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who explained the move by stating, “Complete trust is required between the Prime Minister and the head of the Shin Bet.”
Bar: “A Hollow Procedure with a Pre-Determined Outcome”
Ronen Bar chose not to attend the meeting and instead sent a letter claiming that this was a “hollow procedure with a pre-determined outcome,” which he argued was tainted by “foreign considerations and a serious conflict of interest.” He noted that during his tenure he consistently worked in coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office and even received instructions from the Prime Minister to avoid meetings with ministers.
Defense Minister Gideon Saar explained his support for the dismissal, citing a sense of responsibility for the October 7 failure. Saar stated, “All other senior security officials have completed their roles, so too should the head of the Shin Bet bear responsibility.”
In response to the decision, opposition leader Yair Lapid announced that opposition factions would petition the High Court against Bar’s dismissal. He stated, “His dismissal was intended to halt the investigation into Qatargate.” Opposition Chair Benny Gantz also opposed the move, calling it “a mark of Cain on every member of the government.”
Additionally, at the initiative known as the “Truth Machine,” an independent petition was submitted to the High Court requesting the cancellation of the decision and an urgent discussion.
Background to the Tension
Relations between the Prime Minister and the Shin Bet Chief have been increasingly strained since the outbreak of the war. Ronen Bar has called for the establishment of a state inquiry committee several times, and the publication of an internal investigation within the Shin Bet that focused on decisions made by the political echelon has widened the gap.
Another focal point in the crisis was the statement by former Shin Bet Chief Nadav Argaman, who warned that Bar might expose information if pressured. According to government sources, the decision was meant to bring stability to the security establishment. Former Shin Bet Chief Minister Dichter said during the nighttime discussion: “In a state of mistrust, there are two options: either the head of the Shin Bet resigns or is dismissed. And if he doesn’t resign, then he is dismissed.”
Key Points in the Shin Bet Chief’s Letter
In response to the Prime Minister’s statement about prolonged mistrust in him, Bar sent a letter to ministers, claiming that he was not given the opportunity to respond adequately to allegations, nor did he receive examples or explanations from the Prime Minister.
In his letter, Bar referred to the “Qatargate” affair, in which the involvement of parties from Qatar in Netanyahu’s office is allegedly being investigated. He hinted that his dismissal was intended to obstruct the investigation of the affair. He also argued that since the outbreak of the war, there has been close cooperation between him and Netanyahu, and that the decision stems from political rather than professional motives.
Bar emphasized his commitment to recovering the hostages and his proactive role regarding the previous hostage release deal. He suggested that the mistrust may stem from his independent and professional approach to managing negotiations, rather than from a professional failure.
End of Service by April 20
Meanwhile, the legal advisor to the government expressed reservations about the dismissal process, clarifying that the committee’s recommendation must be obtained beforehand.
According to the published decision, Bar will complete his role on April 10 unless a replacement is found prior to that date.
