Netanyahu Says He Will Seek To Dismiss The Head Of Israel's Internal Security Service
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Netanyahu said in a statement the he has had “ongoing distrust” with Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, and “this distrust has grown over time.”
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he will seek to dismiss the head of the country’s internal security service this week, following a power struggle over the Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu said in a statement the he has had “ongoing distrust” with Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, and “this distrust has grown over time.”
The Shin Bet is responsible for monitoring Palestinian militant groups, and recently issued a report accepting responsibility for its failures around the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. But it also criticized Netanyahu, saying failed government policies helped create the climate that led to it.
The tensions boiled over this weekend when Bar’s predecessor, Nadav Argaman, said he would release sensitive information about Netanyahu if it is found that the prime minister had broken the law. Netanyahu accused Argaman of blackmail and filed a police complaint.
The Shin Bet did not have an immediate response to Netanyahu’s announcement.
