Netanyahu announces intention to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar this week

By Lazar Berman

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and ToI Staff 16 March 2025, 7:31 pm

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Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar attends a farewell ceremony in honor of then-police chief Kobi Shabtai (not pictured), at the National Police Academy in Beit Shemesh, on July 14, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Shin Bet head Ronen Bar for an urgent meeting in his office and informed him a short time ago that the cabinet will vote this week to force him out of his post, Netanyahu’s office says.

According to Hebrew media reports, the vote will take place in a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

According to Channel 14, it was “not an easy conversation.”

Netanyahu is widely reported to have been working for months to try and oust Bar, as he seeks to place the blame for the failures of October 7 solely on the security echelon, as opposed to political leadership.

Though Bar intended to eventually resign over his failures in preventing the attack, he was said to be pushing back against the effort to oust him, fearing that acquiescence would allow Netanyahu to appoint a loyalist in his stead. Bar has refused to step down despite his agency’s probe into October 7 finding failures by his agency, with him and Netanyahu trading increasingly public barbs.

Bar reportedly said he did not plan on stepping down from his post until all the hostages were returned and a state commission of inquiry was established to probe failures surrounding October 7.

In a statement tonight, Netanyahu says: “At all times, but especially during an existential war such as we face, there must be full trust between the prime minister and the head of the Shin Bet.

“But unfortunately, the situation is the opposite — I do not have such trust. I have ongoing distrust in the head of the Shin Bet, a distrust that has only grown over time.”

“I want to make clear,” says the prime minister, “I am full of appreciation for the men and women of the Shin Bet.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a statement on his intention to fire Shin Bet head Ronen Bar (Screenshot/Prime Minister’s Office Spokesman)

Netanyahu says he is “sure that this step is critical for the rehabilitation of the organization, for achieving all our war aims, and for preventing the next disaster.”

The Attorney General’s Office office had previously told the prime minister he would have to consult with it before dismissing Bar, to ensure there were no improper considerations. He does not appear to have done so.

The Shin Bet is currently looking into suspicions that top aides to the prime minister had improper ties to Qatar.