Netanyahu Government Removes Israeli Intelligence Chief; Protests Erupt

International Desk 

The Israeli parliament has decided to remove Shin Bet (internal intelligence agency) chief Ronen Bar following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of losing confidence in him. The decision will take effect on April 10, as reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, widespread protests have erupted across Israel against Bar’s removal.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu publicly stated his lack of confidence in Bar, leading to discussions about his dismissal. Bar has served as the head of Shin Bet since 2021. News of his removal has sparked public outrage, with Israelis protesting for three consecutive days.

On Thursday night, police used water cannons to disperse protesters gathered outside Netanyahu’s residence. Clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, resulting in dozens of arrests. Protesters have been voicing their anger over Bar’s dismissal and the renewed attacks on Gaza, with citizens engaging in joint demonstrations for the past three days.

It is believed that a corruption investigation may be behind Bar’s removal. The probe reportedly began after allegations surfaced that several officials in Netanyahu’s office were offered bribes by Qatar. This strained relations between Netanyahu and Bar over the past few months.

Netanyahu has dismissed the bribery allegations as politically motivated and baseless, claiming they are part of an effort to oust him from power. Critics of the decision to remove Bar argue that such actions weaken Israel’s democratic processes. They accuse Netanyahu of becoming increasingly authoritarian.

In a letter to the government, Bar claimed that his removal was due to conflicts of interest unrelated to national security, calling the decision unacceptable and separate from the country’s interests.

Notably, Ronen Bar had previously expressed a desire to resign. Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that infiltrated Israel, he offered to step down, taking responsibility for the intelligence failure. However, Netanyahu’s government at the time refused his resignation and expressed confidence in him.