After a protracted public dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service, one of the highest ranking officials held accountable for Israel’s inability to stop the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, announced his resignation on Monday.
Following Netanyahu’s attempt to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar last month, which caused a public uproar and a Supreme Court case questioning whether the prime minister had the right to do so, Bar announced he would resign in mid-June. Netanyahu blamed Bar of failing to stop the Hamas attack and declared that he no longer trusted him.
On the surface, however, many Israelis believed Netanyahu disapproved of Bar’s handling of the hostage talks with Hamas.
While negotiations have said that Netanyahu adopted a harsher line, Bar was perceived as being more inclined to reach an agreement with Hamas to free the detainees.
Bar accepted responsibility for his part in the failure that resulted in the attack on October 7 in his speech announcing his resignation.
Netanyahu has yet to name Bar’s successor.
Bar’s exit represents a successful effort by Netanyahu to silence some of the most influential critics of his approach to the conflict.
Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military chief of staff, resigned in January after admitting to the army’s shortcomings on October 7.
Halevi also openly expressed disapproval of Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict. Another opponent, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, was also dismissed by Netanyahu.
Other notable figures who remain in power include Netanyahu, who has stated that he will not resign as long as the war rages, Mossad, and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s foreign espionage agency.
Many of Netanyahu’s opponents saw his attempts to remove Bar as political. Three aides connected to Netanyahu are under investigation by the Shin Bet for possible wrongdoing in their interactions with Qatar.
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