The head of Israel’s internal security service has dramatically announced his resignation in June over the failure of his domestic spy agency to warn of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced his resignation on Monday night, saying he will formally step down on June 15, defusing his escalating row with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Crisis-hit Netanyahu tried to fire Mr Bar last month over what he said was a crisis of confidence surrounding Hamas’s attacks. But the step sparked an uproar in Israel because the agency is investigating ties between the Israeli leader’s office and Qatar during peace negotiations. Critics said the firing was tainted by a conflict of interest meant to derail the probe, a charge Mr Netanyahu denies.
Netanyahu is facing massive criticism for not ending the war to secure the release of the remaining hostages 59 held in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed still alive. Israel’s Supreme Court froze the firing following multiple legal challenges against it and called on the sides to reach a compromise.
In his address, Mr Bar said the court case “is not about my personal case but about the independence of the next heads of the Shin Bet“. He said the agency’s “proper functioning is of inestimable importance to the security of the state and to Israeli democracy. I have been fighting for this for the past month, and this week the necessary infrastructure was laid before the High Court of Justice.
“I hope that the ruling that will be given will ensure that the Shin Bet will be preserved as such, over time and without fear.” Mr Bar filed a document with the Supreme Court last week that accused Mr Netanyahu of trying to exploit the power of the agency for political and personal gain.
Among the accusations, he claimed Mr Netanyahu wanted him to spy on anti-government protesters and pressured him to effectively scuttle Mr Netanyahu’s corruption trial by claiming the prime minister could not give evidence because of security concerns. Mr Netanyahu called the accusations lies and responded with his own accusations against Mr Bar.
Mr Netanyahu frequently complains of a “deep state” of civil servants and unelected judges that he says are out to topple him. Good governance groups say the Shin Bet chief is meant to be an independent figure and fear that Mr Bar’s ouster will clear the way for Mr Netanyahu to place a loyalist into the sensitive post.
The Shin Bet is responsible for monitoring Palestinian militant groups, and Mr Bar has previously acknowledged his agency’s failures in preventing Hamas’s October 7 attack. Speaking at the memorial, Mr Bar said everyone who “failed to provide a security blanket that day must bow our heads in humility before the murdered, the dead, the wounded, the kidnapped and their families and act accordingly. Everyone.”
The Qatar investigation is the latest in a series of scandals to hit Mr Netanyahu. The Shin Bet is looking into allegations that close advisers worked as paid consultants for Qatar – an Arab country that does not have full diplomatic relations with Israel – while also working for the prime minister. Mr Netanyahu, who is on trial for a series of corruption charges, has not been directly implicated in the scandal.
Mr Netanyahu early this month attempted to name a former navy commander as the new Shin Bet chief. But he was forced to cancel the appointment less than 24 hours later after learning that his nominee had participated in anti-government protests.
He is under major pressure from loved ones of hostages being held in Gaza and a number of officials pleading with him to end the war and save those being detained.
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