Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s powerful internal security service, Shin Bet, may not seem like a typical rebel.
A former special forces soldier with degrees from Tel Aviv and Harvard universities, Bar has spent three decades serving the state. He has a lean frame, short, graying hair, gaunt features, a reserved manner, and moderate speech.
However, Bar has found himself at the forefront of Israel’s bitter internal political, social, and cultural conflicts. On Thursday night, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government voted to fire the 59-year-old from his post — the first Shin Bet chief ever to be dismissed. This decision sparked massive protests across Israel and reignited accusations that Netanyahu is attempting to dismantle the country’s democracy.
Yossi Melman, a veteran Israeli security reporter, stated, “He never intended to be a hero to the opposition or the protest movement. He is a typical product of Israel’s security establishment.”
Bar completed his military service in the Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s elite special forces. He then opened and operated a bar in Tel Aviv, where he met his wife. After obtaining degrees in political science and philosophy from Tel Aviv University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard, he joined Shin Bet and rose steadily through its operations division’s ranks.
While the Shin Bet prioritizes counter-terrorism, it also investigates espionage, manages security clearance for sensitive positions, and has a legal obligation to defend Israel’s democratic system.
Bar took over the service in 2021, appointed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and was expected to serve a standard five-year term. He may only be stopped by a supreme court judgment from being fired prematurely.
One of the first senior security officials to take responsibility for the failures that allowed Hamas’s deadly surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Bar expressed his intention to resign.
He has remained to work towards the release of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza and to protect Shin Bet from political manipulation. While he has partially achieved the first objective, the second has not been successful. He has become a target by warning about the threat posed by “Jewish terrorism” and criticizing the government’s policies.
In March 2023, Bar told Netanyahu that security threats in Israel were linked to the social situation, according to Israeli media reports.
A Shin Bet report released earlier this month indirectly criticized Netanyahu’s policies, stating that Israel’s “policy of quiet” allowed Hamas to build up its military capabilities.
Bar is concerned about the appointment of a government loyalist to replace him, which could have significant consequences for investigations into the “Qatargate” scandal and other matters.
Netanyahu cited a “persistent loss of professional and personal trust” as the reason for Bar’s dismissal, which is set to take effect by April 10.
Bar denies this, citing his effective collaboration with the prime minister and stating that Netanyahu’s personal interests are the primary motivation behind his dismissal.
“The dismissal of the Shin Bet director at this time, and at the prime minister’s initiative, poses a direct threat to Israel’s security,” the former commando wrote in a letter published this week.
Critics accuse him of trying to cover up the failures that led to the October 2023 attacks, while supporters argue that he was doing his job and speaking truth to power.
