Former Shin Bet officials: "Netanyahu is trying to get rid of everyone responsible for october 7—except himself"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar for an urgent meeting in his office last night (Sunday), where he informed him of his intention to seek government approval for his dismissal. The move has sparked outrage within the security establishment, with senior officials warning of serious consequences. "Netanyahu is looking for personal loyalty, not loyalty to the state," said Yaakov Peri, former head of the Shin Bet.

Netanyahu has informed Bar that he intends to bring a decision to the government this week to vote on his removal. The unexpected decision has caused a stir among former Shin Bet officials and the wider security system, who warn about its impact on Israeli democracy.

Former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, who currently serves as Minister of Agriculture, expressed support for the Prime Minister’s decision in an interview with "The Patriots" (channel 14), which aired last night. According to Dichter, "The government appoints the head of the Shin Bet, so it also has the authority to decide on the end of his term. I don’t see a legal issue here."

During the interview, Dichter also responded to former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, who had strongly criticized the political handling of the situation. Dichter called Argaman’s remarks "unfortunate" and added, "I expected him to apologize or retract his statement, but unfortunately, he did not."

Netanyahu’s Actions Under Fire

Former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Peri sharply criticized the decision:

"The Prime Minister is in a state of confusion and is trying to remove everyone who was responsible for the events of October 7—everyone except himself. Netanyahu is seeking personal loyalty, not state loyalty. He must take responsibility for the failures instead of dismissing security chiefs."

Former senior Shin Bet official Dvir Kariv also expressed deep concern about the move and its implications: "As someone who was responsible for counterterrorism and domestic threats, I am more worried about Israeli democracy than ever before. If the Prime Minister appoints a Shin Bet head who is personally loyal to him, Israel will cease to be a democracy. This is the defining moment for Israeli democracy."

Kariv further hinted at a conflict of interest, noting that Netanyahu did not act against his own staff members suspected of ties with Qatar but instead chose to fire the Shin Bet chief—who happens to be in charge of investigating that very issue.

A Risk to National Security?

Former senior Shin Bet official Lior Akerman also condemned the decision, calling it illegitimate: "Netanyahu, as the ultimate authority over the October 7 failures, cannot be the one appointing and firing security chiefs. Ronen Bar has demonstrated responsibility and professionalism, while Netanyahu is evading all accountability and systematically weakening Israel’s gatekeepers."

Akerman added that the Shin Bet chief’s dismissal—combined with the ongoing investigation into potential ties between the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatar—raises serious concerns about a conflict of interest.