Hardline Gvura Forum calls on Shin Bet chief to resign by mid-May

The Gvura Forum, which represents some families of soldiers killed during the current war, writes an open letter to Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar claiming that he promised them to resign by May 15 and calling on him to fulfill that commitment.

“Your continued tenure at this time, despite the government decision, harms the people, the country, security, endangers the stability of the country, and is leading to an intensification of the struggle between the branches of government,” several dozen families state in their letter.

The Gvura Forum represents hardline bereaved families who say the war must continue “until total victory.”

Bar was fired by the government last month but has claimed, along with several government watchdog groups, that his dismissal was tainted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political considerations as well as severe procedural deficiencies.

The High Court of Justice is weighing petitions filed against his dismissal, but would be able to avoid making a definitive ruling and risking a constitutional crisis with the government if Bar resigns in the coming weeks.

Bar himself said in an affidavit to the court on Monday that he would announce the date of  his resignation in short order.

“Sir, in a conversation with several bereaved families including myself last week in your office, you pledged to end your role no later than May 15,” writes Gvura Forum chair Yehoshua Shani in the open letter on behalf of the organization.

Shani implores Bar to “keep your word,” adding that Bar should give notice of the date on which he will resign “immediately,” and before next week’s Memorial Day, calling on him “not to add pain and division to our brokenness.”