Shall we hold on to the horns of the altar? Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced this evening (Sunday), after hearing from the Prime Minister about the intention to dismiss him, that he has no intention of leaving his position.
""As the head of the Shin Bet on October 7, I took responsibility for the service's part and clearly stated that I intend to fulfill it before the end of the term, as was expected of everyone. Therefore, it is clear that the intention in dismissing me is not in light of October 7. The Prime Minister clarified that the decision stems from his claim that there is a continuing lack of trust between us.".
""The Shin Bet, under my leadership, conducted a thorough investigation that pointed to intelligence failures and internal processes on October 7, the correction of which has already begun. Alongside this, the investigation pointed to a policy that was led for years, with an emphasis on the year preceding the massacre, by the government and its head. The investigation reveals a long and deliberate disregard by the political echelon of the organization's warnings.".
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He claims, "The need to interrogate all parties, including government policy and the Prime Minister, and not just the IDF and the Shin Bet, which have thoroughly interrogated themselves, is required for the sake of public security. If I do not insist on this, with all the personal costs I will pay, I will be violating my duty to the security of the state. Investigating the truth is a supreme value in the Shin Bet, the public's right to know what led to the massacre and the collapse of the State of Israel's security concept.".
He stated that he has no intention of leaving the position. "My public responsibility is the basis for my decision to continue in my position in the near future, in light of the potential for escalation, the high security tensions, and the real possibility of a return to fighting in the Gaza Strip, in which the Shin Bet plays a central role.".
""Along with this, I must fulfill my personal and service obligations to return the abductees, complete a number of sensitive investigations, and optimally prepare two candidates to replace me, for the Prime Minister's selection - as required by the Shin Bet's state position and the extreme sensitivity of the Shin Bet, by virtue of its designation and by virtue of the law that allows it extensive and extremely sensitive powers.".
Bar added: "In a previous meeting, I informed the Prime Minister that I intend to complete the above before resigning from my position in coordination with him, in light of my responsibility to the public, to the security of the state, and to the functioning of the General Security Service for the benefit of the State of Israel. As stated above, the duty of trust owed by the head of the Shin Bet is first and foremost to the citizens of Israel - this perception is the basis of all my actions and decisions. The Prime Minister's expectation of a personal duty of trust whose purpose contradicts the public interest is a fundamentally wrong expectation that is contrary to the Shin Bet Law and contrary to the value of statehood that guides the Shin Bet and its personnel.".
Political factor He responded sharply to Bar's words: "The outgoing head of the Shin Bet was confused about who is subordinate to whom. The Prime Minister's lack of trust in the head of the Shin Bet is not a personal matter but a clear public matter, and the Shin Bet's clinging to the altar harms the Shin Bet and the security of the state.".
""If anyone had any doubt about the vital need to remove the head of the Shin Bet from his position - he has now received the final answer to that with the anti-democratic response in which he says that he, and not the government, will determine when he will end his position.".
""So he also decided on the night of the October 7th who not to wake up and who not to call. The head of the Shin Bet repeats the lie that he warned the political echelon against the Hamas attack, while the protocols prove the exact opposite: On October 1, 2023, seven days before the massacre, the head of the Shin Bet said that Hamas was deterred and that it needed to be given economic benefits in order to maintain calm. The head of the Shin Bet even repeated these claims three days before the massacre.".
The political commentator Fellow He responded, "Amazing thing. The head of the Shin Bet announces - I'm continuing." However, he reported that Shin Bet sources clarified: "Ronen Bar made it clear in the meeting and in the announcement why he will not resign. To the extent that the government decides to transfer him from his position, he will respect the decision.".
Ariel Kahane, Israel Hayom's political commentator: "Forgive me, but just for his brazen statement, Ronen Bar must be fired. And immediately.".
The response of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, which shows that he continues to cling to the altar and refuses to accept the government's dismissal, is indescribably brazen. It proves how political his conduct was and still is.
— Yaki Adamker (@YakiAdamker) March 16, 2025
Moti Castel, Channel 14's political correspondent reported that the prime minister said in talks with Likud ministers: The head of the Shin Bet blackmailed me with threats and exploited the organization's power to intimidate me in order to remain in his position.
The order of things is the opposite of the reality that Ronen Bar is trying to create here: The head of the Shin Bet invented a futile investigation - 'Lottery Gate' - a political investigation, when he realized that I intended to fire him in order to continue clinging to the chair.
He undermined the Prime Minister and invented successors for himself. He failed in his duty, and it is my authority to fire him. There is no obligation to consult.
Just as the Chief of Staff ended his role after submitting the investigations - that's how Ronen Bar should have acted. Just as I moved Gallant out of distrust and we achieved great achievements - that's how it will be this time too.
Joshua Shai, The chairman of the 'Hagavura' forum responded on his Twitter account: "When you read the arrogant, haughty and rebellious response of the head of the Shin Bet, it is understandable how we came to the disaster of October 7. Ronen Bar will not be forgotten and now we will not be forgiven either. It is becoming increasingly clear that you played a role in the downfall of the sons of the saint, Captain Uri Mordechai.".
Earlier this evening, the Prime Minister met with the head of the Shin Bet for a 14-minute meeting, in which he informed him that he would bring a proposal to the government to terminate his position. This is against the backdrop of the lack of trust that has prevailed between the two for a long time.
According to reports, Netanyahu even named a replacement for Bar - his deputy M., who was added to the new negotiating team for phase two of the hostage deal.
