Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israeli government has unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to remove Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) director Ronen Bar from his position, marking the first time in Israel’s history that a sitting Shin Bet chief has been dismissed. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced the decision on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Ronen Bar’s tenure will officially end on April 10, 2025, or when a new ISA director is appointed, whichever comes first.
In a post on X, the PMO stated:
“The Government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to end ISA Director Ronen Bar’s term of office. Ronen Bar will conclude his duties on 10 April 2025 or when a permanent ISA Director is appointed – whichever comes first.”
Unprecedented Decision Amid Controversy
According to The Times of Israel, the vote to remove Bar took place in a three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting, which he did not attend. Instead, Bar sent a letter claiming that his dismissal was politically motivated, writing that it was “entirely tainted by conflicts of interest” and a “fundamentally invalid” move to undermine Shin Bet as it investigates Qatar’s influence in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who was present at the meeting, opposed the decision. She previously informed Netanyahu that the government needed an advisory committee’s recommendation before moving forward with Bar’s dismissal.
Netanyahu’s Justification & Political Reactions
As reported by CNN, Netanyahu defended the move, stating that removing Bar was necessary to achieve Israel’s war goals in Gaza and to “prevent the next disaster.”
CNN also highlighted that Netanyahu had earlier removed both Bar and Mossad Chief David Barnea from the negotiating team working on an indirect ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza.
The decision has sparked strong criticism from opposition politicians, who argue that Bar’s removal is politically motivated. Critics claim that Netanyahu is targeting Bar to weaken Shin Bet’s ongoing investigations.
With Bar set to leave by April 10, 2025, or earlier if a replacement is appointed, all eyes will now be on who will take over as Israel’s new Shin Bet director and how this leadership change will impact Israel’s security strategy moving forward.