Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reversed his decision to appoint Vice Admiral (res) Eli Sharvit as the new director of the Shin Bet, less than 24 hours after the announcement of his selection.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office thanked Sharvit for his readiness to assume the role but noted that Netanyahu would be considering additional candidates before making a final decision.
Sharvit’s nomination had sparked significant backlash from members of members Netanyahu’s own political bloc.
Critics raised concerns about Sharvit’s alleged involvement in protests against the government’s judicial reform plans in 2023 and his public criticism of climate policies during US President Donald Trump’s first term.
The judicial reforms, proposed by the Netanyahu administration, aim to restructure the balance of power, shifting more authority to elected officials and away from unelected jurists.
While Sharvit, a former head of the Navy, expressed concern about the legislation, reports indicate that he did not join calls from fellow officers at the demonstrations urging reservists to refuse to serve if the reforms were passed.
Despite this, his apparent participation in the demonstrations contributed to a cool reception of his potential appointment.
Opposition leader Benny Gantz, head of the Unity Party, praised Sharvit’s “values and experience” but cautioned that his appointment should be postponed until the judicial review of the dismissal of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is completed. Bar’s dismissal has been caught in a legal dispute, becoming a focal point of the ongoing public clash between the coalition and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom Netanyahu is also attempting to remove.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, added that Sharvit would need to “prove that his loyalty is solely to the law and the state, and not to whoever appointed him,” calling it a “difficult, almost impossible task.”
Likewise, in the US, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham voiced strong opposition to the appointment, describing Sharvit’s past comments on Trump as deeply concerning and a factor in his disapproval.
This leadership shake-up comes amid Netanyahu’s ongoing efforts to replace Ronen Bar, the current Shin Bet director. Bar’s dismissal has been temporarily blocked by an injunction issued by Israel’s Supreme Court, further complicating Netanyahu’s reshuffling of key security positions.
