DaysofPal- Rosen Bar, the head of the Israeli domestic security agency (Shin Bet), announced on Monday that he will step down on June 15, 2025, following weeks of escalating tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The announcement comes after Netanyahu attempted to dismiss Bar last month, citing a “lack of trust,” a move that triggered widespread protests and deepened political divisions in the country.
Bar, who has served in Israeli security for 35 years, announced a memorial event at the Shin Bet headquarters. In a statement, he emphasized his decision was aimed at ensuring an “orderly process” for appointing a permanent successor and facilitating a professional handover. However, his dismissal has been mired in controversy, with both Bar and Netanyahu leveling accusations against each other in a highly publicized legal battle.
The feud reached new heights last week when Netanyahu, in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, labeled Bar a “liar.” This followed Bar’s court testimony, in which he accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty and ordering the Shin Bet to spy on anti-government protesters during demonstrations in 2023. Netanyahu vehemently denied these claims, calling them “an absolute lie.”
Bar also rejected allegations from Netanyahu and his allies that the Shin Bet had failed to provide timely warnings about Hamas’s action on October 7, 2023, which was followed by the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Instead, Bar argued that his ouster was politically motivated, aimed at halting investigations into the failures leading up to the attack and shielding Netanyahu from corruption charges in his ongoing trial.
Netanyahu initially nominated Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit as Bar’s replacement but withdrew the nomination after facing sharp criticism from the United States, a key ally of the Israeli occupation.
The government’s attempt to remove Bar was temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court, further fueling public outrage. Protesters accused Netanyahu of undermining Israel’s democratic institutions and pursuing an autocratic agenda.
The controversy surrounding Bar’s dismissal is part of a broader effort by Netanyahu’s government to consolidate power, including recent judicial reforms that have drawn significant backlash. Last month, Israeli parliament passed a law granting politicians greater influence over the appointment of judges—a move critics say undermines the independence of the judiciary. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who sponsored the bill, defended it as a way to “restore balance” between the legislative and judicial branches. Opponents, however, have described the reform as a “nail in the coffin of Israeli democracy.”
The judicial overhaul sparked one of the largest protest movements in Israeli history in 2023, though public attention shifted to the war in Gaza as hostilities intensified. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has faced growing scrutiny for launching impeachment proceedings against several critics, including Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, further polarizing the nation.
As Bar prepares to leave office, his departure underscores the deepening rifts within Israeli leadership and raises questions about the future of its security apparatus and democratic foundations.
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