Photo: COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/Getty Image
On the night of 21 March 2025, the Israeli government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to terminate the powers of the head of the General Security Service (Shabak), Ronen Bar. This is stated in an official statement by the Prime Minister’s Office. “Ronen Bar will leave his post on 10 April 2025 or after the appointment of a new head of the Shabak, whichever comes first,” the statement said.
Ronen Bara was not present at the government meeting, but Gali Baarav-Miara, the government’s legal adviser, was present and spoke against his resignation. The decision was the culmination of tense events that had unfolded a few days earlier. On 16 March, Netanyahu summoned Barak to an urgent meeting in his office, where he announced his intention to dismiss him. According to ITV Channel 12, the prime minister offered Barr to resign of his own accord, but he refused. After that, Netanyahu said that he would put the issue of dismissal to a vote of the government, as the prime minister alone does not have the authority to remove the head of Shabak.
In a video address to the citizens of Israel, Netanyahu explained the reasons for his decision. “We are in the midst of a war for our existence. We are fighting on seven fronts. During a war, especially a war like this, the head of government must have full confidence in the head of the Shabak. Unfortunately, I do not have this trust. I have not trusted the head of Shabak for a long time, and this feeling is only growing. Due to the long-standing lack of trust, I have decided to submit a proposal to the government to terminate his powers,” the Prime Minister said. He added: “I highly appreciate the work of the Shabak staff, who are dedicated to fulfilling their duties for the safety of all of us. But as the head of the government that runs this organisation, I am convinced that this step is necessary to restore it, achieve the goals of the war and prevent another tragedy.”
The decision provoked a mixed reaction. Gali Baarav-Miara, the government’s legal adviser, issued a statement, stressing that Bar’s resignation was impossible without her position on the so-called QatarGate investigation into alleged ties between Netanyahu’s entourage and Qatar. She noted that she had not been informed of the Prime Minister’s intention to dismiss the head of Shabak in advance, which may indicate a violation of procedures.
Ronen Bar’s resignation triggered mass protests initiated by the opposition. Demonstrators accuse Netanyahu of attempting to weaken the independence of the security forces amid a difficult internal and external situation. The Prime Minister’s critics believe that Bar’s dismissal may be related to his activities in investigating scandalous cases that affect the interests of Netanyahu and his associates.
The government’s move has already been called one of the most controversial decisions of the ongoing war. Further developments will depend on the appointment of a new head of Shabak and the reaction of society, which is increasingly polarised by the government’s actions.
