Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar Plans to Resign Soon
According to Channel 12, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar is preparing to resign within the next few weeks, as indicated by multiple discussions he has had with colleagues recently.
This news follows last week’s interim injunction from the High Court of Justice, which mandated that Bar remain in his position until further notice. The government and the attorney general were given a deadline of April 20 to reach a resolution regarding the controversial decision made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month to remove him from office.
Nevertheless, Channel 12 reports that Bar plans to step down, asserting that the ongoing turmoil is severely damaging to the Shin Bet’s operations.
Bar is expected to file a statement with the court next week, outlining his intentions and the anticipated date of his resignation, according to the report.
Netanyahu’s attempt to dismiss Bar occurred in March, citing a loss of trust in him.
This event marked a historic moment, being the first instance in Israeli history where a prime minister has dismissed the head of the domestic security service.
However, critics argue that Netanyahu’s move reflects a clear conflict of interest, given the Shin Bet’s ongoing investigation into his close associates who allegedly undertook public relations work for Qatar while in his employ.
More broadly, detractors accuse Netanyahu of attempting to place blame on Bar for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, thus avoiding accountability himself.
