Ronen Bar’s current and former deputies are considered to replace him as agency chief

Two top Shin Bet officers are reportedly being considered to replace the current chief of the security agency, Ronen Bar, whom Prime Minister Netanyahu announced tonight would be fired.

The first officer is known by the first initial of his name in Hebrew, “Shin,” and is the current deputy head of the Shin Bet. He has been in the deputy role for just two months, though he has served in other senior positions in the agency, including chief of staff and chief of the research division.

The second officer being considered is “Mem,” the former deputy chief of the agency. Netanyahu recently appointed him as a member of Israel’s hostage negotiation team, after Bar was kicked off it. He has also served in several other senior roles in the agency.

Both “Shin” and “Mem” served in the Shin Bet as field coordinators, involved in recruiting agents and other sources.

According to Hebrew-language media reports, Netanyahu may not choose either of the two officers, but instead bring a defense official from outside the organization to head the Shin Bet, or alternatively a former senior Shin Bet officer.

Among the former senior Shin Bet officials reportedly being considered to lead the Shin Bet is Meir Ben Shabbat, who is considered close to Netanyahu. Ben Shabbat formerly headed the Shin Bet’s southern district, and later Israel’s National Security Council.