Netanyahu moves to fire Shin Bet chief amid ‘ongoing distrust’

The prime minister stressed that he held "full appreciation for the men and women of the Shin Bet," but his decision to dismiss Bar follows months of disagreement over accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza.

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed when thousands of terrorists stormed across the border and 251 people were taken hostage.

Bar’s agency, which is tasked with monitoring Palestinian militant groups, issued a report accepting responsibility for its failures but also criticising government policies, including Netanyahu’s leadership, as contributing factors.

Despite widespread pressure from defence officials for a state commission of inquiry into the attack, Netanyahu has refused to accept personal responsibility.

Bar, appointed Shin Bet chief in 2021 by then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, had already planned to step down after the war's conclusion, but his dismissal now has become a point of contention.

Reports have suggested that Netanyahu has been working for months to remove Bar, seeking to place blame for the security failures on the Shin Bet, while deflecting responsibility from his government.

Although Bar was willing to step down once hostages were freed and a commission of inquiry established, he resisted Netanyahu’s efforts to force his resignation earlier.

In response to the announcement, Bar released a lengthy statement arguing that the decision to fire him was not about the October 7 attack but was instead based on a personal dispute. “The duty of loyalty placed on the Shin Bet is first and foremost to Israeli citizens.This underlies all my actions and decisions,” Bar said.

“The prime minister’s expectation of a duty of personal loyalty, the purpose of which contradicts the public interest, is a fundamentally illegitimate expectation. It is contrary to the Shin Bet law and contrary to the patriotic values that guide the Shin Bet and its members.”

In his statement, he also pointed out that Shin Bet’s internal review of  October 7 had shown that “the policy led by the government, and the person who has headed it, for years, with emphasis on the year preceding the massacre,” had contributed to the failures .

The investigation revealed a “longstanding and deliberate disregard by the political echelon for the agency’s warnings,” it revealed.

Bar confirmed he intended to remain in office until the hostages were freed, sensitive investigations were completed, and his two potential successors were ready.

However, following some media speculation that Bar was refusing to step down, the Shin Bet clarified that Bar would accept his dismissal if it passed the cabinet vote.

“The intention behind my firing is not related to October 7. The prime minister made it clear that the decision was due to his claim there is ongoing distrust between us,” Bar said.

“The Shin Bet, under my leadership, carried out a thorough investigation that pointed to intelligence and internal process failures on October 7, the repair of which has already begun.”

Bar’s dismissal has raised legal questions, with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara warning Netanyahu that he could not initiate the firing process until the factual and legal basis behind the decision was fully examined.

In a letter to Netanyahu, she cited the unprecedented nature of the issue, the sensitivity involved and concerns that the process could be tainted by legal and ethical issues.

“The role of the head of the Shin Bet is not a personal trust position serving the prime minister,” Baharav-Miara explained, adding that the matter needed to be carefully scrutinised.

Bar also explained his reluctance to resign, emphasising his responsibility to the country’s security and the Shin Bet’s ongoing role in managing tensions with Gaza.

“My public responsibility is a key factor in my decision not to resign for the time being,” he said. “I want to follow through on my personal commitment and the commitment of the agency to the hostages.”

In terms of his potential replacement, no formal decision has yet been made.

Two top Shin Bet officers are reportedly in the running: one, known by the initial “Shin,” is the current deputy head with a background in senior Shin Bet positions; the other, “Mem,” is a former deputy chief with experience in various senior roles and recent involvement in hostage negotiations.

However, Netanyahu may opt for a candidate outside the Shin Bet’s ranks, with reports suggesting he could bring in a defence official or a former senior Shin Bet officer.

One such candidate is Meir Ben Shabbat, a former head of Israel’s National Security Council and a close confidant of Netanyahu.