From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Smotrich reassures Shin Bet staff that ‘turmoil’ created by Bar won’t ‘tarnish’ their work
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
In an open letter to employees of the Shin Bet, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blames the security agency’s chief, Ronen Bar, of “dragging” it into “turmoil” but says that his alleged “misconduct” does not reflect on them or the organization as a whole.
Multiple employees of the agency have expressed “deep frustration with the situation the service has found itself in” as a result of Ronen Bar’s supposed actions, and it is important to stress that the state and government of Israel “have full trust in you and tremendous appreciation for your work,” Smotrich writes.
“Ronen Bar’s misconduct does not tarnish the General Security Service, and certainly not those of you who serve in it,” he continues, calling on Shin Bet personnel to keep their spirits up and remember that their agency “is much bigger and more important than its leader.”
Bar told the High Court of Justice on Monday that he had been fired due to expectations from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he be personally loyal to the premier, and said it was made clear to him that he needed to obey Netanyahu and not the Supreme Court in the event of a constitutional crisis. Bar’s termination has been temporarily frozen by the court.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims to be the victim of a “deep state” plot against him, has previously argued that an ongoing probe against two of his top aides was only ordered by Attorney General Baharav-Miara and begun by Bar to create an ostensible conflict of interest, in which the prime minister could not fire the security chief who was investigating his office.
The premier’s assertion appeared to be based on little evidence and contradicted the known sequence of events, as Netanyahu only initiated the process to dismiss Bar after the investigation into Qatar had already been launched.
On Sunday evening, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to halt incitement against Bar before it leads to “political murder.”
The Times of Israel Community.