Netanyahu Moves to Oust Shin Bet Chief Amid Growing Security Rift
Shin Bet Chief pushes back, demands an inquiry into Netanyahu’s role in security failures.
BNH NETWORK
Jerusalem -:Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated the dismissal process of Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, marking an unprecedented public fallout between Israel’s leadership and its internal security agency. The move comes amid intensifying disputes over accountability for security failures leading to the October 7 Hamas attack and concerns over Netanyahu’s government policies.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, Bar was summoned on Sunday and informed that a proposal for his removal will be presented to the government this week. In a video address, Netanyahu stated that the decision stemmed from a “lack of trust” in Bar.
Shin Bet Chief Strikes Back: Calls for Inquiry into Netanyahu
Ronen Bar, in a rare public rebuttal, issued a statement asserting that his loyalty is to the Israeli public and national security—not to the Prime Minister personally. He accused Netanyahu of expecting personal loyalty over professional integrity, calling it “fundamentally flawed” and a violation of the Shin Bet Law.
Bar further called for an independent state commission of inquiry to investigate all relevant parties, including government policies and Netanyahu himself.
“A comprehensive inquiry is essential for public security,” he said, dismissing claims that his removal was linked to Shin Bet’s role in intelligence failures.
Fact File:
- Netanyahu moves to dismiss Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, citing ‘lack of trust.’
- Shin Bet admits intelligence failure in October 7 Hamas attack but blames Netanyahu’s policies.
- Bar demands an independent inquiry into Netanyahu’s handling of security matters.
- ‘Qatar Gate’ probe into Netanyahu’s close aides heightens political tensions.
- Netanyahu accuses former Shin Bet Chief Nadav Argaman of blackmail.
Hamas Attack, Security Failures, and Political Fallout
Bar’s proposed dismissal follows a fierce blame game over Israel’s inability to anticipate and prevent the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. The Shin Bet recently admitted in an internal report that it failed to detect the scale of the attack, which led to massive casualties and a prolonged war in Gaza.
However, the agency also pointed fingers at Netanyahu, stating that his government’s policies allowed Hamas to strengthen significantly. Netanyahu has rejected all calls for an independent inquiry, fueling further tensions with Israel’s security establishment.
The ‘Qatar Gate’ Controversy: A Key Factor?
Tensions between Netanyahu and Bar have also escalated over “Qatar Gate”, an inquiry into Netanyahu’s close aides and their ties with the Qatari government. Qatar has played a critical role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as negotiating the release of Israeli hostages. However, Israel and Qatar do not have formal diplomatic relations, making these alleged ties controversial.
The timing of Bar’s proposed dismissal has led to speculation that it is a politically motivated move rather than a security-based decision.
Former Shin Bet Chief Also Under Fire
Adding to the political turmoil, Israeli police launched an investigation into former Shin Bet Chief Nadav Argaman after Netanyahu accused him of blackmail. Netanyahu claimed that Argaman made “mafia-style” criminal threats and held compromising information against him.
The allegations stem from Argaman’s interview with Israel’s Channel 12 News, where he warned that he would reveal “everything” he knows if Netanyahu acted against the law.
“I am deeply concerned that Netanyahu is deliberately causing division in Israeli society for political survival,” Argaman said, adding that any security-sensitive information would be disclosed in accordance with the law.
