The head of Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency, Ronen Bar, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dismissing him for refusing to carry out what he described as illegal orders, including spying on domestic protestors. In an affidavit filed with the Israeli Supreme Court, Bar claimed that Netanyahu sought to use the domestic intelligence agency to monitor and control dissent against his government.
Bar, who was formally fired last month, was told his dismissal was due to a lack of trust and his failure to prevent the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. His firing marked a historic first for Israel, as it was the first time a domestic security chief had been removed by the government. However, the Israeli Supreme Court intervened by issuing an injunction to freeze Bar’s dismissal while the case is reviewed.
In his 31-page affidavit, Bar rejected the official explanation for his sacking, attributing it instead to Netanyahu’s demands for personal loyalty. He alleged that Netanyahu pressured him to use Shin Bet’s resources to target protestors, particularly those involved in demonstrations against the government’s policies. This included surveillance of “protest funders,” a move that Bar claimed was unlawful.
The former Shin Bet chief further stated that Netanyahu instructed him to disregard court rulings during a constitutional crisis and to act in ways that could benefit the prime minister personally, including helping Netanyahu avoid testifying in his ongoing corruption trial. Netanyahu is facing charges in three separate graft cases, where he is accused of accepting bribes and luxury gifts from media moguls in exchange for political favors, which he denies.
Bar did acknowledge the agency’s failures in the lead-up to the Hamas attack, suggesting that his resignation was imminent prior to his firing. Despite these claims, Netanyahu’s office has vehemently denied Bar’s accusations, labeling his affidavit as full of falsehoods and asserting that Bar had “failed miserably” in his handling of the Hamas incursion.
The controversy surrounding Bar’s dismissal comes amid widespread protests against Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly in the wake of the deadly Hamas surprise assault. Israeli citizens, including families of hostages taken during the attack, have called for Netanyahu’s resignation, accusing him of mishandling the situation and demanding early elections.
As the protests intensify, the country remains divided, with many questioning the handling of the Gaza war and Netanyahu’s leadership amid his ongoing legal battles. This new clash between Netanyahu and Shin Bet’s former chief further underscores the ongoing tensions in Israel’s political and security landscape.
