The chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, sharply attacked the conduct of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar at his faction's meeting in the Knesset today (Monday), claiming that replacing him is a "necessary and necessary step.".
Smotrich said: "It would have been appropriate for Ronen Bar to take real responsibility and resign on his own initiative more than a year ago. Better late than never.".
The minister emphasized: "Ronen Bar's reaction to the decision, along with the briefings and his clinging to the chair, testify to about a thousand witnesses that he is unworthy of serving in this position, and this is without regard to the intelligence and operational failure for which he is responsible, the most serious failure that led to the greatest disaster since the establishment of the State of Israel.".
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Smotrich attacked Bar's conduct: "It harms all the masses of Shin Bet employees who work for Israel's security, and is reminiscent of the conduct of the head of a secret organization in anti-democratic regimes in third world countries.".
The Finance Minister also referred to the attempts of the legal advisor to the government to prevent Bar's dismissal: "Any violent and forceful attempt by legal elements to deprive the government of the authority granted to it by law to dismiss or appoint the head of the Shin Bet is illegitimate, illegal, and undemocratic and must not be obeyed.".
Smotrich called on the prime minister "not to give in to threats and violence, neither from legal elements nor from irresponsible opposition and protest elements who have forgotten to be democrats." He called on Netanyahu "to bring to the government without delay a decision on replacing the head of the Shin Bet.".
Smotrich here's news if there is no concern that the Shin Bet chief's dismissal stems from the opening of the investigation in the Rehm office: "The Shin Bet is not a one-man body, if there is an investigation, it will continue. Bar should have flown on a rocket after October 7th"'@yaara_shapira pic.twitter.com/V3L3QeECpZ
— Here News (@kann_news) March 17, 2025
Regarding the war in Gaza, Smotrich said: "In these days, and against the backdrop of Hamas' consistent refusal to return our hostages, we are preparing to return to war in Gaza through a large, deadly, multi-division attack that will lead to the destruction of Hamas and the occupation of the Gaza Strip.".
Smotrich also referred to the state budget and assistance to reservists: "We are managing to stabilize Israel's economy and bring it onto a path of growth and prosperity.".
After the statement, Smotrich was asked by Kan News if there was no concern that the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief was due to the opening of the investigation in the Prime Minister's Office.
To this he replied: "The Shin Bet is not a one-man body. If there is an investigation, it will continue." He added: "Whoever claims this, admits that the investigation was opened so that the head of the Shin Bet would have immunity. He should have flown on a rocket after October 7.".
