Clash Between Shin Bet Chief and PM Netanyahu Ahead of High Court Decision on His Dismissal

Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar submitted a response today (Friday) to the High Court regarding petitions against his dismissal, warning that the move could turn the agency into a “secret police.” He expressed serious concerns over the erosion of the agency’s independence.

According to Bar, the very act of pursuing his dismissal during such a sensitive period—while criminal investigations are underway against close associates of the Prime Minister, without a proper procedure or the opportunity to fairly respond to the allegations—sends a dangerous message to the leadership of the agency: if you fall out of favor with the political echelon, your job is at risk.

He wrote that “the move severely harms the ability of the Shin Bet director to carry out his duties and opens the door to abuse of the security agency’s subordination to the political level.” He emphasized that his role is not to serve as the Prime Minister’s “personal loyalist,” and that maintaining professional independence is critical.

Bar also claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu had requested a security opinion asserting that the current situation did not allow him to testify in court—something Bar says marked the start of a trust breakdown between the two.