Replacing the Shin Bet Chief: These are Netanyahu's top picks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to interview candidates for the position of Shin Bet chief today (Wednesday). Netanyahu intends to interview R., the current deputy head of the Shin Bet; M., a former deputy head of the Shin Bet and a member of the hostage release negotiation team; security expert Eyal Tzir Cohen; and former senior Shin Bet official Shalom Ben Hanan.

1. “R.” (Yair Sagi): The current deputy Shin Bet chief, known only as “R.” until recently identified as Yair Sagi by Ynetnews. A veteran of the elite Sayeret Shaldag unit, Sagi is a Palestinian terrorism expert with extensive experience in the West Bank, Gaza, and operations involving Arab-Israeli citizens. He narrowly lost the Shin Bet chief race to Bar in 2021. A Bnei Akiva yeshiva graduate with a master’s in public administration, Sagi also served as deputy head of the agency’s technology division and founded tech startups post-retirement in 2023, focusing on cybersecurity and drones. His absence from the October 7, 2023, intelligence failure gives him an edge.

2. “M.”: A former deputy Shin Bet chief who stepped down after October 7 but was cleared of personal blame in initial probes. Known for running major wartime interventions, M. has been tapped by Netanyahu for hostage negotiations, including recent overseas missions, signaling trust. As a religious figure, he’d follow Yoram Cohen as the second observant Shin Bet head. Sources within the agency, cited by The Jerusalem Post, praise his professionalism, making him a stabilizing choice.

3. Eyal Tzir Cohen: A former Mossad division head and Shin Bet operative, now a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. A Wexner program graduate and self-described “Arabist,” Cohen has criticized the handling of hostage talks. On February 25, 2025, he wrote that the first-phase deal with Hamas left the group intact, questioning long-term gains (Ynetnews). He will meet Netanyahu after returning from abroad.

4. Shalom Ben Hanan: A 27-year Shin Bet veteran who retired in 2022 at a major-general equivalent rank, having led the Jerusalem and West Bank division and the Counterintelligence Division. Now at Reichman University’s Counter-Terrorism Institute, Ben Hanan has publicly criticized Bar for politicizing the agency, urging a security-only focus (The Jerusalem Post, 2024). His raid experience, including hospital operations, and stance against Bar align with Netanyahu’s views, though his academic ties might raise left-leaning concerns.

Supreme Court Justice Gila Canfy-Steinitz issued a temporary injunction last week freezing Bar’s dismissal until a further decision is made. In her ruling, she stated that a hearing would be scheduled as soon as possible.

The Attorney General sent a letter to the Prime Minister emphasizing that it is forbidden to take any action that harms the status of the Shin Bet chief, appoint a new chief, or even conduct interviews for the position. Netanyahu and the government requested the cancellation of the High Court’s injunction, but the request was denied. However, Canfy-Steinitz did not accept the Attorney General’s stance prohibiting the Prime Minister from interviewing candidates to replace Ronen Bar.

Netanyahu is keen to choose a replacement for the Shin Bet chief as soon as possible to soften the public and political criticism over the dismissal of Ronen Bar. If he selects one of the two former deputy heads, the appointment is not expected to provoke discontent within the agency, as the Shin Bet chief is typically chosen from among the deputies. But if he picks one of the candidates who did not climb the agency’s ranks, the appointment will likely spark strong criticism, which could make it harder for him to complete the dismissal of Ronen Bar.

Walla and JPost contributed to this article.