Overview

• Ronen Bar, head of Israel's Shin Bet, has announced he will resign effective June 15, citing his agency's failures during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
• Bar's resignation follows months of political and legal conflict after Prime Minister Netanyahu sought to dismiss him in March, alleging a loss of confidence.
• The Israeli Supreme Court had blocked Bar's dismissal, triggering a constitutional standoff over executive authority and judicial oversight.
• Mass protests erupted over the government's handling of the situation, with critics accusing Netanyahu of avoiding accountability for broader security lapses.
• Bar has committed to participating in ongoing Supreme Court proceedings addressing Shin Bet's institutional independence and its role in governance.