Overview

• Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party has renewed calls for Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s resignation, alleging misuse of the agency for political purposes and loss of government trust.
• Bar faces accusations of turning parts of Shin Bet into a 'private militia' and conducting politically motivated investigations, including probes tied to the QatarGate affair involving Netanyahu aides.
• Critics argue the push to remove Bar is an attempt to halt investigations into alleged financial ties between Netanyahu’s associates and Qatar, deepening concerns over government interference.
• The Supreme Court has frozen Bar’s dismissal following legal challenges, with opposition leaders defending him and warning of threats to democratic accountability.
• The controversy stems from Shin Bet’s perceived failures to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed over 1,200 people, and ongoing internal tensions over leaks and whistleblowing.