Israel cabinet votes to sack Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar

The head of Israeli’s internal security service Shin Bet has attacked the government’s decision to fire him as he becomes the first Shin Bet chief in Israel’s history to be dismissed early.

Former Israeli army Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar in January. Picture; AFP.

The head of Israeli’s internal security service Shin Bet has attacked the government’s decision to fire him as “entirely tainted by conflicts of interest,” saying the unprecedented move constituted a “fundamentally invalid” attempt to undermine the service as it probes Qatar’s influence at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet on Friday (AEDT) approved the Prime Minister‘s request to fire Ronen Bar, deepening a power struggle that is dividing the country.

The decision to sack Mr Bar is focused largely over who bears responsibility for the October 7 2023 massacre by the Hamas terror group, but also sets the stage for a crisis over the country’s division of powers. Israel’s Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who is herself threatened by a separate bid to remove her from her watchdog role, said the plan to dismiss Mr Bar was likely illegal.

“The government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to end ISA Director Ronen Bar’s term of office,” the cabinet said in a statement after the vote.

He will leave his post when his successor is appointed or by April 10 at the latest, the statement said.

Mr Bar did not attend the vote, but in a letter sent to the cabinet before they voted, he warned that his sacking at a crucial time in Israel’s war with Hamas posed “a direct threat to Israel’s security”.

Mr Bar was not supposed to end his tenure until 2026, and his sacking means he’s become the first Shin Bet chief in Israel’s history to be dismissed early.

Mr Netanyahu had urged his cabinet to remove the Shin Bet chief amid an investigation by the security service into ties between the Prime Minister’s aides and the Gulf state of Qatar. Mr Netanyahu said he had had “ongoing distrust” issues with Mr Bar, and “this distrust has grown over time.”

In his letter, Mr Bar suggested it was more likely he was sacked because of the “complex, extensive, and highly sensitive investigation concerning Qatar’s involvement in Israel’s highest decision-making processes, including the Prime Minister’s Office.”

An attempt to undermine the probe by his dismissal, he added, “is entirely tainted by improper considerations and personal and institutional conflicts of interest of the highest order.”

The relations between Mr Bar and Mr Netanyahu were strained even before the October 7 attack and Qatar probe, notably over proposed judicial reforms that had split the country.

Relations worsened after the release earlier this month of an internal Shin Bet report on the Hamas attack.

The report acknowledged the agency’s own failure in preventing the attack, but also said “a policy of quiet had enabled Hamas to undergo massive military buildup”.

Mr Bar had already hinted that he would resign before the end of his term, taking responsibility for his agency’s failure to prevent the attack.

His dismissal came despite Israel’s President Isaac Herzog expressing concern over the move, as well as Israel’s incursion into the Gaza Strip.

Shortly before Mr Bar was fired, Mr Herzog said in a rare video statement: “It is impossible not to be deeply troubled by the harsh reality unfolding before our eyes.”

He stopped short of mentioning Mr Netanyahu by name but added: “Unfortunately, we are witnessing a series of unilateral actions, and I am deeply concerned about their impact on our national resilience.”

Thousands of protesters rally against the Israeli government over moves to sack Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Picture; Getty Images.

Mr Bar was a key player in the negotiations with Hamas to free the remaining hostages and reach a cease-fire, and his removal gives Mr Netanyahu’s close aides a tighter grip over the talks. The Prime Minister had already barred him from the most recent negotiations to extend the ceasefire

His sacking follows that of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who had spoken out against the bombardment of Gaza, and the removal of former Israeli Defence Forces chief Herzi Halevi.

Mr Herzog called on the government to take note of the thousands protesting over Mr Bar’s sacking, as well as Israel’s decision to return to war which they see as forsaking the hostages.

Addressing the strikes, the President criticised the decision to resume fighting in Gaza while Israeli hostages, including some who are known to be alive, remain in the enclave.

“It is unthinkable to resume fighting while still pursuing the sacred mission of bringing our hostages home,” he said.

“Thousands of reserve duty call-ups have recently been issued, and it is inconceivable to send our sons to the front while simultaneously advancing divisive and controversial initiatives that create deep rifts within our nation,” Mr Herzog added, calling on decision-makers to “carefully weigh every step and assess whether it strengthens national resilience”.

Israeli strikes killed at least 85 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Thursday (local time, according to local health officials. Hours later, Hamas fired three rockets at Israel without causing casualties, in the first such attack since Israel broke their ceasefire.