Head of Israel’s intelligence agency resigns – defusing Netanyahu row

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The head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service has said he will resign in June – defusing an escalating row with Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister last month said he planned to fire Ronen Bar, citing an “ongoing distrust” in the Shin Bet chief. However, the country’s Supreme Court blocked the move.

Mr Bar has now stated he will formally step down from his role on 15 June and said he is resigning over his agency’s failure to warn of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks.

Making the announcement at a memorial event for fallen Shin Bet soldiers, he said: “After years on many fronts, one night, on the southern front, the skies came down.

“All systems collapsed. The Shin Bet also failed to give a warning.”

Mr Bar said he is staying in his post until June “in order to allow for an orderly process of appointing a permanent successor and a professional handover”.

Shin Bet’s responsibilities include counterterrorism and security for government officials.

The Israeli PM’s plan to dismiss Mr Bar was met with uproar in Israel because the agency is investigating ties between the leader’s office and Qatar.

Critics said the firing was meant to derail the probe, which Mr Netanyahu denies.

Mr Bar’s sacking was frozen by Israel’s Supreme Court, who called on both sides to reach a compromise.

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In his speech on Monday, Bar said the case “is not about my personal case but about the independence of the next heads of the Shin Bet”.

He filed a document with the Supreme Court last week which accused Mr Netanyahu tried to exploit Shin Bet’s power for political and personal gain.

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He alleged Mr Netanyahu wanted him to spy on anti-government protesters and effectively scuttle his corruption trial by saying the PM could not testify due to security fears.

Mr Netanyahu denied the accusations and levelled his own at Mr Bar – whose ousting leaves god governance groups fearing the PM will place a loyalist into the sensitive post.