Netanyahu Targets Political Opponents to Secure Seat, Israel Faces Domestic Political Battle

JERUSALEM, MONDAY - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek to dismiss the Head of Israel's Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar. The reason is that Netanyahu has long been unable to trust Bar. Yet, trust in an institution responsible for counter-terrorism and security for government officials is critically important during critical times of war like the present.

Bar, Sunday (16/3/2025), believes that his planned dismissal is not related to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. He instead suspects a political motive behind the plan for his dismissal. Bar's dismissal is likely to draw criticism, considering that Israel is facing the prospect of new battles in Gaza with dozens of Israeli hostages still being held there.

The plan for dismissal deepens the issue of power struggles, primarily focusing on who is responsible for the Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Netanyahu's attempt to dismiss Bar was made while Bar was investigating individuals close to Netanyahu.

Bar responded to Netanyahu by stating that the only trust he must earn is the trust of the Israeli people. Bar will remain in his current position as it is his duty to complete his investigation, free the hostages in Gaza, and prepare his successor.

Before the plan to dismiss Bar, Netanyahu had previously dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. Military Chief Herzi Halevi also resigned in January 2025 due to Israel's security failure on October 7.

Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has requested Netanyahu to clarify the legal basis for his decision before taking any action. Opposition leader Yair Lapid plans to appeal Bar's dismissal, deeming it disgraceful and politically motivated.

Bar criticized Netanyahu's expectation of personal loyalty at odds with the public interest, but said he would respect any legal decision regarding his tenure. The plan to remove Bar will go before the government on Wednesday, but the issue could face legal challenges.

The war in Gaza was triggered by a surprise Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. It became one of Israel's worst security failures. Bar has admitted responsibility for the October 7 failure. "I take responsibility for the institution's role in failing to prevent the attack. But it is clear that the intention behind my dismissal is not related to October 7," Bar said in a written statement.

Bar has also told Netanyahu that he plans to resign, but will do so after the remaining 59 hostages are repatriated and after completing his investigation.

Netanyahu has rejected calls for an official state commission of inquiry into Oct. 7 and has tried to blame the failure on the military and the Shin Bet. Bar has said the probe should not stop at the military but should also include the government and Netanyahu.

The Shin Bet recently issued a report acknowledging the failure to anticipate Hamas attacks. But it also criticized Netanyahu, saying failed government policies were to blame.

The Shin Bet also said they were aware of the potential threat from Hamas while the Israeli military admitted they had underestimated Hamas' capabilities. "Our investigations have revealed that the political leadership has been deliberately ignoring warnings that have been given about Hamas' capabilities," Bar said.

If Bar is removed, Netanyahu is expected to appoint a loyalist to replace him. This would hamper the commission of inquiry. Amichai Cohen, a researcher at the Israeli think tank Democracy Institute, said the proposal to remove Bar would first need parliamentary approval.

In addition, a decision of this magnitude must be approved by the attorney general. Netanyahu's decision, Cohen said, illustrates a conflict of interest between the Shin Bet's findings on the Oct. 7 attack and the investigation into the relationship between Netanyahu's office and Qatar, which is mediating talks on the Gaza war.

Netanyahu is angry that the Shin Bet is investigating members of his staff over their ties to Qatar. Netanyahu's former spokesman Eli Feldstein was reported by Israel's Channel 12 to have worked for a Doha-based firm that recruited Israeli journalists to write pro-Qatar stories.

Israel's left-leaning daily Haaretz has reported that two other Netanyahu aides, Jonatan Urich and Yisrael Einhorn, are suspected of building a campaign to improve Qatar's image ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)