Netanyahu Fires Security Chief Over Hamas Attack Failures

Reuters
Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, citing distrust and the agency’s failure to foresee the October 7 Hamas assault.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the head of the country’s domestic security service over failure to anticipate the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

The Israeli cabinet met Thursday evening to formally approve the early dismissal of Ronen Bar, who was appointed in October 2021 to a five-year term as chief of the Shin Bet.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, plays a key role in the country’s security operations. Its activities and personnel are closely guarded state secrets.

Bar has described his dismissal as politically motivated.

Netanyahu announced his decision in a video statement, citing "ongoing distrust" between the two men that he said had "grown over time."

Tensions have built up over a corruption investigation involving allegations that aides in Netanyahu’s office were offered bribes by individuals linked to Qatar.

Netanyahu has dismissed the accusations as a politically motivated effort to unseat him.

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