Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to manoeuvre in the struggle for responsibility for the 7 October tragedy, trying to shift the focus from his own failures to the military and intelligence services. After IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi was already removed, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar may be the next to be targeted. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
Shifting responsibility: who is being blamed?
Netanyahu has long blamed Hamas’s large-scale terrorist attack on the shortcomings of military intelligence and the slow mobilisation of the army. At the same time, the military leadership points out that it was the government’s policy of containing Hamas by funding the group through Qatar, as well as controversial judicial reform, that undermined Israel’s combat readiness.
So far, it has been mainly the IDF that has been under attack, while the Shin Bet (Internal Security Service) has been hardly criticised. Only one unnamed officer resigned, while military intelligence lost a number of senior officials.
Why is Bar still in office?
Back in the autumn of 2023, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar took overall responsibility for the failures of the intelligence service, but unlike Galevi, he did not announce his immediate resignation. His contract runs until October 2026, and he may stay on for at least another year.
Netanyahu, according to Israeli media, is demanding that Barak provide the full Shin Bet report on 7 October this Saturday. This could be a prerequisite for his removal if the report’s findings show serious mistakes on the part of the intelligence service.
Preparing for a replacement?
Walla reported that Netanyahu’s inner circle is already considering candidate “M” – a senior official who recently joined the hostage negotiations – as a potential successor to Barak.
If Netanyahu succeeds in forcing Barak’s departure, he will be the only senior official to survive the 7 October debacle and will have control over all the major security agencies.
