Sa’ar says he supports firing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar

In the ongoing cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expresses his appreciation for Shin Bet director Ronen Bar’s many years of service to the country.

In a statement circulated by his office, Sa’ar argues that the law makes clear that the Shin Bet is subordinate to the government, which is legally empowered to dismiss its director.

“The main reason why I will vote in favor of removing the head of the Shin Bet from his position is his responsibility for the October 7th failure, a responsibility that he explicitly acknowledged,” says Sa’ar, pointing out that many other senior defense and security officials have stepped down.

The government, on the other hand, serves only with the consent of the Knesset, which can replace it through a vote of no-confidence.

“Anyone who does not understand the difference between who determines the responsibility of the elected echelon — the people or the parliament — and the subordination of professional actors to the government and their responsibility to it – has missed a fundamental lesson on the essence of a democratic government,” argues Sa’ar.