Disagreements escalate, Israeli Prime Minister plans to fire director of internal security agency

According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would instruct his cabinet this week to terminate Mr. Bar's services.

Under Bar, the Shin Bet has been investigating Netanyahu's aides. The Shin Bet recently completed its investigation into the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, partly blaming Netanyahu.

The report said Netanyahu allowed Qatar to send money to Hamas, helping the group build its military strength. In addition, Netanyahu’s close aides have increased tensions with the Palestinians by threatening to change the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy site (the Noble Sanctuary for Muslims and the Temple Mount for Jews). Finally, the report said Netanyahu’s efforts to limit the power of the judiciary have divided the country and led Israel’s enemies to believe the country is weak and vulnerable.

The investigation comes as talks to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza enter a crucial phase, with Qatar acting as a key intermediary with Hamas. Tensions between Netanyahu and the Shin Bet chief have escalated over disagreements over hostage talks and over assigning blame for the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that sparked the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister recently removed Mr. Bar from his role overseeing the hostage negotiations, replacing him with a close aide. Earlier, according to anonymous sources in the negotiating team, they blamed Mr. Netanyahu for not being able to free more hostages.

Critics have accused the Israeli prime minister of seeking to concentrate power in his own office and eliminate anyone around him who might challenge his role.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel said that the Israeli prime minister’s decision was tantamount to a “declaration of war on the rule of law.” The group said that the move, which comes at a time when investigations into the prime minister’s office and his aides are ongoing, was a clear attempt to sabotage the “Qatar-gate” investigation and block the Shin Bet “gatekeepers.”

Netanyahu has already replaced Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Netanyahu has also strongly opposed the creation of a state commission to investigate the causes and failures that led to the October 7, 2023 attack. He said that members of the judiciary who could lead such an investigation were political opponents who would seek to remove him.

Earlier on March 13, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unexpectedly accused Mr. Ronen Bar of "blackmail", in the context of the discord between these two figures reaching an unprecedented level.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has provided only limited information to explain his accusations. But the Israeli leader said the head of the Shin Bet had conducted a series of informal press conferences with a number of reporters in recent days to “taint the prime minister.” Netanyahu also said: “The only goal was to try to prevent me from making the necessary decisions to restore the Shin Bet after the catastrophic failure on October 7, 2023.”

For its part, the Shin Bet issued a statement in response to Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that the agency's director has devoted all his time to security issues, hostage rescue efforts and the protection of democracy. "Any statement to the contrary is untrue," the Shin Bet stressed.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has provided only limited information to explain his accusations. But the Israeli leader said the head of the Shin Bet had conducted a series of informal press conferences with a number of reporters in recent days to “taint the prime minister.” Netanyahu also said: “The only goal was to try to prevent me from making the necessary decisions to restore the Shin Bet after the catastrophic failure on October 7, 2023.”

For its part, the Shin Bet issued a statement in response to Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that the agency's director has devoted all his time to security issues, hostage rescue efforts and the protection of democracy. "Any statement to the contrary is untrue," the Shin Bet stressed.

Earlier, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu had pressured Mr. Bar to resign during a meeting between the two on March 6. Mr. Bar had assured senior Shin Bet officials that he would not resign until all Israeli hostages in Gaza had returned and a state commission had been established to investigate the October 7, 2023 incident.

Channel 12 (Israel) reported that Mr. Bar refused to submit his resignation during a March 6 meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. On March 9, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not deny Channel 12's report that Mr. Netanyahu wanted to fire the Shin Bet leader, instead saying: "The party that has the right to appoint the head of Shin Bet is the government, not the current Shin Bet leader."

In response, the Shin Bet asserted: “The head of the Shin Bet has never said that he would appoint a replacement. For decades, the deputy director of the agency has been a candidate for the position of director of the agency, at the discretion of the prime minister.” The Shin Bet appointed a new deputy director in October 2024, announcing that he would take up the role in a few months.