Israel is witnessing growing unrest after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial decision to fire Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, the country’s domestic intelligence agency. The move has sparked widespread protests across the country, raising serious concerns about political motivations, democracy, and national security.
For several days, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, clashing with police in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The protests intensified after Netanyahu’s cabinet officially voted to dismiss Bar—marking the first time in Israeli history that a Shin Bet chief has been removed by a sitting government. Demonstrators are also furious about the government’s decision to resume military operations in Gaza while dozens of Israeli hostages remain in captivity.
At the heart of the outrage is the belief that Bar’s dismissal is not just about security failures, but political revenge. Bar had led an investigation into allegations that Netanyahu’s aides received money from Qatar—an investigation now at risk. In a letter made public, Bar accused Netanyahu of removing him to protect personal interests and weaken the probe into what has been dubbed “Qatargate.”
Netanyahu, however, defended his decision, citing a lack of trust in Bar after the intelligence failures surrounding Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, 2023. He argued that Bar’s approach to negotiations and counter-terrorism was too soft and claimed that removing him improved the performance of Israel’s hostage rescue efforts.
Yet, many see this as a scapegoating tactic. While Bar has acknowledged his agency’s shortcomings in failing to prevent the October 7 attacks, critics argue that Netanyahu has refused to take personal responsibility for what is widely seen as the country’s worst security failure in decades.
Opposition parties, legal experts, and civil society groups have condemned the dismissal. Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, had warned that Netanyahu lacked the legal grounds to fire Bar without proper consultation. Pro-democracy groups have petitioned the High Court to block the dismissal, calling it a threat to Israel’s democratic institutions.
The protests show no sign of slowing down. Demonstrators—carrying umbrellas in the rain and chanting “We will never give up”—have blocked roads, clashed with police, and accused the government of undermining national security to serve its own interests.
This political crisis has deepened existing divisions in Israeli society. Even before the war in Gaza, Netanyahu’s government faced backlash over efforts to weaken the judiciary. Now, with tensions rising both at home and on Israel’s borders, many fear that firing the head of Shin Bet during an ongoing war and amid corruption investigations sends the wrong message—one of political interference rather than democratic accountability.
GeoWire 
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