Netanyahu says he lacks confidence in Bar.
"Due to an ongoing lack of confidence, I have decided to submit a proposal to the government to terminate the Shin Bet chief's term of office", says the Prime Minister in a statement.
The two men have disagreed on who bears the greater responsibility for Hamas's success in carrying out the bloody terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023.
Ronen Bar says he has taken responsibility for Shin Bet's failure at the time and that Netanyahu's decision now has little to do with it.
"The Prime Minister's expectation of personal loyalty that is in conflict with the public interest is a completely unacceptable expectation", says the Shin Bet chief in a statement.
Shin Bet – which is responsible for intelligence work on terrorist-stamped Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups – recently published a report where they admitted responsibility for October 7. However, the report also criticized the political leadership for not listening to the security service's warnings.
Netanyahu has opposed a state 7 October commission and has in recent months, among other things, dismissed Yoav Gallant as Defense Minister and a number of high-ranking officials within the intelligence services.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara states in a statement that Netanyahu needs to clarify the legal reasons for dismissing Bar.
A dismissal must ultimately be approved by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
