The government of Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voted to dismiss Ronen Bar, the chief of Israel\u2019s Shin Bet internal security service. <\/p>\n
The vote in the early hours of Friday local time could still be subject to appeals by Israel\u2019s Supreme Court. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe government has now unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s proposal to terminate the term of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar,\u201d the Prime Minister\u2019s Office said in a statement Friday. <\/p>\n
\u201cRonen Bar will end his role as Shin Bet head on April 10, 2025, or when a permanent Shin Bet head is appointed \u2013 whichever comes first,\u201d it added. <\/p>\n
It came after Netanyahu met with Bar last week and informed him that he would propose his removal. <\/p>\n
In a video statement released on Sunday, Netanyahu said his \u201congoing distrust\u201d of Bar had led to the move. \u201cAt all times, but especially in such an existential war, the prime minister must have full confidence in the head of the Shin Bet,\u201d Netanyahu said. <\/p>\n
Netanyahu added that removing Bar would be necessary for achieving Israel\u2019s war goals in Gaza and \u201cpreventing the next disaster.\u201d The prime minister has frequently criticized the agency, placing blame on its leaders for the security lapses that led to the Hamas October 7, 2023, attacks that killed more than 1,200 people. <\/p>\n
Shin Bet, which is in charge of monitoring domestic threats to Israel, conducted an internal investigation that determined that the agency had \u201cfailed in its mission\u201d to prevent the attacks. But it also blamed policies enacted by Netanyahu\u2019s government as contributing factors, such as politicians\u2019 visits to the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, \u201cthe treatment of prisoners, and the perception that Israeli society has been weakened due to the damage to social cohesion.\u201d <\/p>\n
Shin Bet is reported to have recently opened an investigation into allegations that members of Netanyahu\u2019s office inappropriately lobbied on behalf of Qatar \u2013 something his office denies. <\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter to Netanyahu saying that the government could not fire Bar without the approval of a special committee. <\/p>\n
Netanyahu responded with a letter on Thursday, saying Baharav-Miara was \u201cexceeding her authority\u201d and \u201cgiving legal opinions and instructions to the government in violation of Supreme Court rulings.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bar released a statement just hours before his dismissal saying the vote by Netanyahu\u2019s cabinet \u201cwas hastily convened, contrary to every basic legal rule dealing with the right to be heard and contrary to the position of the legal adviser to the government.\u201d <\/p>\n
Netanyahu has previously removed both Bar and the head of the Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, from the negotiating team engaging in indirect talks with Hamas regarding the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. <\/p>\n
Opposition politicians have criticized Netanyahu\u2019s targeting of Bar, claiming it is politically motivated. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe dismissal of the head of the service at this time, at the initiative of the prime minister, sends a message to all those involved, a message that may jeopardize the optimal outcome of the investigation. This is a direct danger to the security of the state of Israel,\u201d Bar said in his statement Thursday. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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