Netanyahu fires Israel's security chief over 'distrust'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the head of the national security agency due to the agency's failure to foresee the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. This action has sparked widespread attention and exacerbated domestic tensions within Israel, raising questions about accountability and leadership.

The Israeli cabinet convened on Thursday evening to formally approve the early dismissal of Ronen Bar. Bar was appointed as the head of Shin Bet (Israel's domestic intelligence agency) in October 2021, with a five-year term. Netanyahu announced his intention to dismiss Bar in a video statement on Sunday, citing a "continuous lack of trust" between the two, which he said had "intensified over time," impacting their working relationship.

This move has ignited public anger and further intensified anti-government demonstrations in Jerusalem. Thousands of Israelis have converged with protesters opposing Israel's renewed attacks on Gaza. Since Tuesday, Israel has launched fierce attacks on alleged Hamas targets in the Palestinian territory, ending a fragile truce that had lasted nearly two months, causing renewed concerns about civilian safety.

Bar believes that the decision to dismiss him was politically motivated. Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, is herself facing dismissal proceedings. She argued that Bar could not be dismissed before the legality of the move was assessed, highlighting concerns about due process and the rule of law.

In a letter sent to government members before the meeting, Netanyahu mentioned a "continuous loss of professional and personal trust" between the Prime Minister and Bar, proposing that his term end on April 20. The letter stated: "The loss of professional trust was consolidated during the war, going beyond the operational failure of October 7, 2023, especially in recent months," referring to the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Israel-Gaza war. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel's response has been a large-scale military offensive that, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has resulted in the deaths of over 48,500 Palestinians, creating a complex and devastating humanitarian crisis.