Tel Aviv, March 17 (H.S.): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to dismiss Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, after months of tension. In a meeting with Bar, Netanyahu announced plans for his dismissal to be presented to the government this week, with reported majority support for the action.
Ronen Bar stated he will fulfill some responsibilities before leaving his position. Netanyahu’s decision stems from a persistent lack of trust in Bar, deemed necessary to achieve Israel’s military objectives in Gaza.
The Prime Minister has criticized Shin Bet for security failures, particularly regarding the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 casualties. Shin Bet acknowledged its failure to prevent such assaults, attributing Hamas’s strength prior to this incident to economic support from Qatar and tacit Israeli approval.
Notably, Netanyahu has also excluded Bar and Mossad chief David Barnea from indirect negotiations with Hamas, prompting opposition politicians to accuse him of politically motivated actions in Bar’s dismissal.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
