From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 17, 2025
‘We are a democratic country’: Former police chief warns PM against firing Bar for personal reasons
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the right to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet before the end of his tenure, but must do so in the right way, asserts former police chief Roni Alsheich.
“We are in a democratic country,” he tells Channel 12. “It cannot be tainted, or done for personal reasons. It must be based only on relevant considerations.”
He says he does not believe that the Shin Bet’s part in the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror onslaught is the reason for Netanyahu’s decision to fire Bar, as the security chief had already decided to resign in due course.
Instead, Alsheich points to the timing of Netanyahu’s announcement, which comes during an investigation into senior members of his office over their alleged ties with Qatar, suggesting it has more to do with that than anything else.
“It can’t be that this is how one acts in a democratic country,” he says.
Alsheich served as Israel Police chief from 2015 until 2018. Prior to that, he was the deputy head of the Shin Bet.
During his time as police chief, Alsheich oversaw the police investigations into Netanyahu that concluded with an indictment against the premier on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
The Times of Israel Community.