Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to remove the director of Shin Bet, the head of Israel’s internal security service, following a cabinet vote this week; a move that could fuel accusations of authoritarianism. The prime minister cited the “continuing distrust” between himself and Ronen Bar, who has been in charge of Shin Bet since 2021. He claimed it’s impossible to collaborate with Bar during such a critical time for the nation. This decision is the result of an escalating dispute between the two over the failures leading to the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Shin Bet has acknowledged their role in the lapses concerning the attack but also criticized government policies. Despite the significant civilian casualties and abductions, Netanyahu remains steadfast in denying any responsibility for the incident, despite being in office for the 17 years. Far-right groups support Netanyahu’s decision, while political opponents Yair Lapid and Ehud Barak critique it as an affront to the rule of law. Frictions have also arisen regarding the acceptance of financial aid from Qatar to Hamas and the release of sensitive information by Bar’s predecessor, Nadav Argaman, if Netanyahu broke the law. While Bar has defended the Shin Bet’s commitment to the public over personal loyalty to the prime minister, Netanyahu insists that Bar’s dismissal will strengthen Israel’s efforts in achieving war goals. The prime minister has been at odds with Shin Bet over an investigation relating to his staff’s dealings with Qatar, suggesting Bar’s ousting is intended to obstruct the inquiry. Overall, the political and security landscape in Israel has been polarized by Netanyahu’s push for judicial reforms, which critics argue have weakened the country’s defenses and played a role in the Hamas attack.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/16/netanyahu-seek-dismiss-head-israel-internal-security-service-shin-bet