Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the head of the nation’s security service, Shin Bet, citing a “persistent loss of trust” following the agency’s failure to anticipate the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.
The Israeli cabinet formally approved the early dismissal of Ronen Bar on Thursday evening, ending his term prematurely.
Mr Netanyahu had announced his intention to sack Mr Bar in a video statement on Sunday, which sparked widespread protests in Jerusalem.
This marks the first time in Israel’s history that a government has dismissed a sitting Shin Bet chief.
A letter circulated among cabinet members stated that the “loss of professional and personal trust” had deepened during the war with Hamas, extending beyond the initial intelligence failure.
The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, plays a crucial role in national security.
However, Mr Bar has challenged the dismissal, arguing it is politically motivated. In a letter, he said the action was “entirely tainted by conflicts of interest” due to an ongoing Shin Bet investigation into the Prime Minister’s Office over alleged ties to Qatar.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, a critic of Mr Netanyahu, had argued that Mr Bar should not be dismissed until the legality of the move had been assessed. She has previously ordered investigations of people in the Prime minister’s office, concerning alleged financial ties to Qatar.
The decision has also drawn criticism from NGOs and opposition parties, with legal appeals launched against what they describe as an “illegal decision” and a “blatant conflict of interest”.
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