Ronen Bar

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett places a wreath during the official Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on May 4, 2022. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

May 4, 2022, 11:21 am

On Memorial Day, Bennett urges unity, warns ‘era of immunity’ over for terrorists

PM says ‘feuding tribes’ are endangering Israel’s future as country honors over 24,000 fallen soldiers and over 4,000 killed in terror attacks

By TOI staff

Religious Zionism MK Itamar Ben Gvir attends a flag parade near Jerusalem's Old City, June 15, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 1, 2022, 5:52 pm

Police investigating death threats against far-right lawmaker Ben Gvir

Knesset member has received several messages with pictures of bullets and guns and threats to harm him and his family

By TOI staff

MK Itamar Ben Gvir joins right-wing activists participating in a 'flag march,' planned to reach Jerusalem's Old City, but ultimately stopping beforehand at Tzahal Square, on April 20, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 29, 2022, 11:24 pm

As political tensions heat up, Shin Bet defends barring Ben Gvir over security risk

In rare comment, security service says allowing MK to march in Old City last week would have caused significant harm; Bennett said to blame right-wing incitement for death threats

By TOI staff

MK Itamar Ben Gvir shouts at Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a plenum session in the Knesset plenum on October 11, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 29, 2022, 5:05 pm

Ben Gvir blasted by Bennett after blaming Shin Bet head for security blunders

Far-right MK accuses Ronen Bar of failing to address terror wave and instead dealing with blocking him from Old City; PM accuses Otzma Yehudit politician of being ‘anti-Israeli’

By Tobias Siegal and TOI staff

Head of the Shin Bet security service Ronen Bar leaves his home in Rishpon, central Israel, October 11, 2021. (Flash90)

April 28, 2022, 8:53 am

Shin Bet chief met last week with PA’s Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah

After weeks of Temple Mount tensions, Israeli officials hold security assessments ahead of final Ramadan Friday prayers, convergence of Eid and Independence Day

By Tal Schneider

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (C) and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (R) are seen during a visit to the security service's regional command in the northern West Bank and the security barrier, on April 3, 2022. (Haim Zach/GPO)

April 3, 2022, 3:07 pm

Visiting West Bank, Bennett says Israel on lookout for any ‘hint’ of attack

‘Terrorists have all kinds of ideas, so we’re on high alert,’ PM says after series of deadly attacks and shootouts between troops and Palestinian assailants

By Emanuel Fabian

Police arrest an individual in connection with the Hadera attack, March 28, 2022. (Israel Police)

March 28, 2022, 11:02 pm

Shin Bet, cops to round up terror convicts with IS links in wave of arrests — TV

Officials estimate some 20-30 sleeper cells loyal to jihadist group exist in Israel; Interior Minister Shaked said to look into stripping loyalists of their citizenship

By TOI staff

March 13, 2022, 4:39 pm

Visiting Washington, Shin Bet head warns of Ramadan flare-up with Palestinians

Security agency and IDF warn tensions during Muslim holiday, which coincides with Passover, could lead to escalation, echoing concern raised recently by Biden administration

By Jacob Magid and TOI staff

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, center, meets with top IDF officers during a tour of the West Bank, on February 1, 2022. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

February 1, 2022, 7:44 pm

Gantz laments death of elderly Palestinian man left bound in the cold by soldiers

Visiting West Bank, defense minister also says security forces working to tackle ‘Jewish terror’ against Palestinians amid rise in violence

By Judah Ari Gross

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar (L), Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) October 13, 2021 (Haim Zach/GPO)

January 1, 2022, 2:24 am

TV: Bennett asks Shin Bet to investigate Iran-linked accounts targeting Likud

Iranian network shared extremist political content with leading pro-Netanyahu activists, offered to help organize protests against the government, watchdog says

By TOI staff

November 16, 2021, 3:11 pm

New Shin Bet chief said to meet with Palestinian leader Abbas in Ramallah

Ronen Bar reportedly held talks last week on security coordination in West Bank, efforts to broker ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza

By TOI staff

Ronen Bar, the new head of the Shin Bet, leaves his home in Rishpon on October 11, 2021. (Flash90)

November 14, 2021, 10:05 pm

New Shin Bet chief visits Egypt for talks with spymaster — reports

Ronen Bar said to head to Cairo with other officials to discuss long-term truce and potential prisoner exchange with Hamas

By Emanuel Fabian and TOI staff

October 20, 2021, 11:53 pm

New Shin Bet chief said to appoint four women to top leadership roles

Setting precedent, Ronen Bar will reportedly promote two of the four women to roles equivalent to an IDF major general

By TOI staff

Israel Police Northern District Chief Shimon Lavi arrives to testify before the Meron disaster commission of inquiry, on August 22, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 17, 2021, 12:30 am

Northern police chief says area is ‘at war’ with ongoing Arab communal violence

Shimon Lavi says Arabs in north responsible for ‘99% of murders’; public security minister blames rising crime on lengthy ‘neglect of Arab communities’

By Emanuel Fabian

New Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar on October 11, 2021. (Shin Bet)

October 13, 2021, 4:32 pm

New Shin Bet chief: Agency won’t stand idly by as crime rises in Arab community

Ronen Bar succeeds Nadav Argaman as head of service that mostly deals with Palestinian terror; says Israel must also find ways to further cooperate with the PA

By Emanuel Fabian