Ronen Bar, chief of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, announced on Monday that he will resign from his post on June 15, 2025, after 35 years of service. The resignation follows a public and legal battle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accused Bar of disloyalty and failing in his duties.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony for fallen Shin Bet agents, Bar said his decision was made to allow “an orderly process” for appointing a successor.
The announcement comes after Netanyahu submitted a sworn statement to Israel’s Supreme Court accusing Bar of being a “liar” and claiming he failed to alert government leaders ahead of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Bar, in his own affidavit, alleged that Netanyahu sought personal loyalty and even ordered surveillance of anti-government protesters during the 2023 unrest.
Bar denied Netanyahu’s claims, stating, “Nothing was hidden from the prime minister that night.” In response, Netanyahu argued that Bar had “lost the confidence of the entire Israeli government” and failed to fulfill his responsibilities.
Bar’s dismissal, initially announced by the government in March, was frozen by the Supreme Court after legal appeals from the attorney general and opposition leaders. The unprecedented conflict has fueled mass protests and raised concerns over the politicization of Israel’s security services.
Bar’s departure marks a dramatic turn in the internal tensions within Israel’s leadership as the country grapples with ongoing political and security challenges.
Source: NYT
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
