Overview

• Ronen Bar, head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, announced he will step down on June 15, citing the agency's failure to foresee Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks.
• Bar's resignation temporarily resolves a tense standoff with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attempted to fire him in March over a claimed loss of confidence.
• The Supreme Court had blocked Netanyahu's dismissal of Bar, prompting a legal battle where both accused each other of lying and misconduct in sworn affidavits.
• Bar alleged Netanyahu pressured him to spy on anti-government protesters and interfere in the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial, accusations Netanyahu denied.
• Critics warn the dispute underscores broader concerns about the politicization of Israel's security agencies, democratic norms, and judicial independence.