What’s happened: Head of Shin Bet Security Service Ronen Bar announced that he would step down on June 15th.
- Speaking at a memorial service for fallen fighters from the service on Monday night Bar said, “After years on multiple fronts, the sky fell on one night on the southern front. The entire system collapsed. The GSS also failed to provide a warning. As the person who stands at the head of the organisation, I took responsibility, and now, on this special evening that symbolises remembrance, heroism and sacrifice, I have chosen to announce that I will follow through on my decision to end my tenure as director of the General Security Service.”
- Bar added, “My love for the homeland and my loyalty to the country are the basis over every decision I have made in my professional life. That remains true tonight.”
- “To the families of the murdered and the fallen, it is important for you to know that the Shin Bet did not make light of the threat. Despite attempts to manufacture a different reality, the Shin Bet was never complacent; to the contrary: there was understanding of the Hamas threat, alongside constant initiative and a drive to engage. Nevertheless, we failed…. must bow our heads in humility before the murdered, the dead, the wounded, the kidnapped and the families, and act accordingly. Everyone.”
- Bar once more called for a state commission of inquiry to be formed. “The truth and the corrections that must be made can be done only within the framework of a state commission of inquiry. You deserve the truth. The fallen deserve it. Taking responsibility in practice is an inseparable part of setting a personal example and the legacy of our leaders, and we have no legitimacy to lead without it.”
- Bar also stressed the importance to Israel’s security and democracy that the Shin Bet be allowed to operate independently. He said he hoped that after having presented the High Court of Justice with all the evidence, the court would hand down a ruling that ensures that the Shin Bet is able to continue to function independently.
Context: Bar’s resignation comes more than a year and a half after the greatest failure in the history of the Shin Bet under his leadership.
- Just like other senior military commanders within the army who have all since resigned, Bar wanted to leave on his own terms, having acknowledged his organisations failure in a full internal inquiry over a month ago.
- With his retirement, Bar will end 35 years of service. The end of his tenure has been marked by controversy after he was fired last month by a unanimous cabinet vote but he chose to remain in office pending the High Court of Justice ruling on the matter.
- It is hoped that his resignation ends the bitter legal dispute between himself and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- In response to Bar’s submission to the court, on Sunday Netanyahu submitted his own affidavit, in which he accused Bar of lying in his own submission and attempting to avoid responsibility for the failures which lead to the 7th October attacks.
- In the affidavit, Netanyahu referred to “Bar’s blindness” as the “greatest intelligence failure in the history of the State of Israel.”
- He also rejected claims made by Bar that he had attempted to direct Shin Bet to collect intelligence on anti-government protest leaders.
- Netanyahu also referenced numerous failed assassination attempts (against himself) which he suggested caused him to seek to give testimony in his ongoing criminal court cases from a “safe place” rather than avoid doing so altogether.
- In response, Bar continued to allege that the Prime Minister attempted to pressure him into acting unlawfully, while criticising his failure to take responsibility for authorising Qatari cash to enter Gaza in the years prior to October 7th. Bar added, “Senior security officials have taken responsibility for the intelligence failure [on October 7th]. But the prime minister never took responsibility for the quiet policy of funding Hamas, which was dictated directly by the Prime Minister”.
- With Bar’s impending departure, it draws into sharper focus the political leadership that stand alone, without having investigated itself, or agreed to form an independent commission of inquiry, and not yet called for an early election.
- All this in the shadow of the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are thought to be still alive and are being held in horrific conditions, now for 571 days. Despite reports of a breakthrough in talks, Army Radio quoted an Israel political official saying, “the reports in the foreign media are inaccurate. Israel has been working continuously and incessantly with the Americans and the mediators with the goal of advancing a deal to release our hostages but, for the time being, no agreement has been reached.”
- Bar’s resignation at this time is being viewed as positive move for Israel’s security, as extreme tension between the government and its primary intelligence agency has hampered the ability to hold substantive discussions on security issues.
Looking ahead: His decision to step down may render the High Court of Justice ruling moot, but efforts might still be made to reach a compromise on an agreed-upon date for his resignation earlier than the one he announced.
- Now, the central question is who will replace him, and whether they will find a consensus candidate who meets the approval of the prime minister and the security establishment, as was the case with the appointment of Eyal Zamir as IDF chief of staff.
- It remains unclear if Bar will have a role in choosing his successor, and whether despite their bitter disagreements he and the prime minister can cooperate for the last few weeks of his tenure.
- Memorial Day ceremonies will begin this afternoon at 4:00 pm Israel time. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana will attend a ceremony in Jerusalem. At 8:00 pm, the state ceremony will be held at the Western Wall, with President Herzog, Defence Minister Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Zamir in attendance.