Jump to content

Ronen Bar

Page extended-confirmed-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronen Bar
רונן בר
Born
Ronen Beresovsky

(1965-12-25) 25 December 1965 (age 59)
Alma materTel Aviv University
Harvard University[1]
OccupationIntelligence official
Espionage activity
Allegiance Israel
Service branchShabak
Service years1993–present
RankDirector

Ronen Bar (Hebrew: רונן בר; born 25 December 1965) is an Israeli intelligence officer and the director of the Israeli Security Agency (commonly referred to as Shin Bet, Shabak, or ISA) since 13 October 2021. He replaced Nadav Argaman, after having served as his deputy since 2018. Bar was appointed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his nomination was approved by Israel's cabinet on 11 October 2021. He assumed office on 13 October 2021 and was fired in March 2025, though his firing was suspended by the High Court of Israel.

Biography

Ronen Bar was born in Rehovot under the name Ronen Beresovsky.[2] Bar joined the IDF in 1984 and served as a soldier and officer in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.[3] After finishing his military service in 1988, Bar opened a cafe in Tel Aviv called "Bagdad Cafe". He joined Shin Bet as a field agent in 1993,[4] and in 2011 was named head of Shin Bet's Operations Division. Bar became head of the resource development department in 2016, and became Shin Bet deputy chief in 2018.[3] He was nominated as the head of the Shin Bet on 11 October 2021[4] and assumed office two days later.[5]

Bar was initially expected to serve as director until 2026,[5] but in March 2025 was unanimously fired by the Israeli government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed to have "lost trust" in him. Bar accused the government of firing him for investigating Qatari involvement and influence in the Prime Minister's Office, in a case known as the Qatari Connection Affair.[6]

Bar holds a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from the Tel Aviv University with honors,[7] and an MA in Public Management from Harvard University. He is fluent in Arabic in addition to Hebrew.

Dismissal attempt and resignation

In an all-staff memo made public on 16 October 2023, Bar took responsibility for failing to thwart the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas. "The responsibility is mine. Despite a series of actions we carried out, unfortunately, on Saturday we were unable to establish sufficient deterrence so as to thwart the attack," he wrote. "There will be time for investigations. Now we are fighting."[8]

In a recording revealed on 3 December 2023, Bar was heard to say that after the 7 October Hamas attack, Israel would kill Hamas's leaders "in every location," even if it takes years. "We are determined to do it, this is our Munich," referring to Israeli efforts to retaliate against terrorists responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics attack that killed 11 Israelis.[9]

On 16 March 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he intended to submit a proposal to the government to terminate Bar's role as head of the Shin Bet, claiming that "at all times, but especially during such an existential war, the Prime Minister must have full confidence in the head of the Shin Bet, but unfortunately, the situation is the opposite – I do not have such confidence... I have an ongoing distrust in the head of the Shin Bet that has grown over time."[10][11]

On 20 March 2025, the Israeli cabinet voted to dismiss Bar, effective 10 April, or when a new director is chosen, following a controversy in which Shin Bet was investigating allegations involving staff in the prime minister's office and Qatar.[12] Netanyahu reportedly criticized Bar over his support for a state commission of inquiry over 7 October, which was one of the reasons for Bars' dismissal.[13] Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had prior to her own dismissal said Bar could not be dismissed without prior approval by an advisory committee on senior appointments.[14] On 21 March 2025, Bar's dismissal was suspended by the Supreme Court of Israel[15] following a petition that was jointly filed by Yesh Atid, National Unity, The Democrats and Yisrael Beiteinu, and a separate petition that was filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and “Protective Walls of Israel” Forum.[16] The court ruled on 9 April that Bar could not be fired as long as the imposed injunction was in place and both sides were given until 20 April to reach a compromise.[17] On 28 April, Bar tendered his resignation effective 15 June, citing responsibility for failing to prevent the 7 October attacks.[18]

In an affidavit, Bar said Netanyahu had "pressed him to spy on those Israeli citizens who had led and funded anti-government protests" and "demanded personal loyalty above the rulings of the Supreme Court in the event of a constitutional crisis".[19]

Following the government's decision, several entities and opposition parties filed a petition with the Supreme Court against Bar's dismissal.[20]

On 21 March, Supreme Court Judge Gila Canfy-Steinitz froze the dismissal and ordered a hearing in an expanded panel "as soon as possible and no later than April 8, 2025".[failed verification] In response to the petition, the government argued that the issue was not adjudicated.[20]

On 8 April 2025, the Supreme Court heard the petitions. The procedure was broadcast live. The court ruled that Netanyahu was prohibited from announcing a replacement , but was permitted to interview possible candidates. The judges added that the government was prohibited from excluding Bar from the consultations. The decision allows both the head of the Shin Bet and the Prime Minister to submit affidavits in support of their factual claims. At the same time, the government and Attorney General of Israel Gali Baharav-Miara can reach an agreed settlement by 20 April .[21][22]

Affidavit of the head of the Shin Bet

On 21 April, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar submitted an affidavit to the court, most of it secret and some of it public. In his affidavit, Bar claims that his conclusion from the sequence of events is that the source of the desire to terminate his tenure is not on a professional level but rather in the expectation of personal loyalty on his part to the Prime Minister, and that until November 2024, the Shin Bet had received many compliments from the Prime Minister.[23]

In the public part of the affidavit, Bar made the following claims:

  • Netanyahu asked him to give a security opinion that Netanyahu cannot testify at his trial and Bar refused to do so.[24]
  • The Prime Minister's Office asked him to act against anti-government protesters and monitor "protest financiers", including Gonen Ben Itzhak.[25][26][27]
  • Netanyahu demanded personal loyalty, obedience to him and not to the Supreme Court.[28][23]
  • The Shin Bet started an investigation, which presented the policy of the political echelon towards the Gaza Strip and the warnings that were conveyed to the political echelon by the Shin Bet during 2023 and were ignored by it.[29]
  • The Shin Bet started an investigation into the connection between those employed in the Prime Minister's Office and the government of Qatar which resulted in his dismissal.[25][26]

On 21 May, the Supreme Court declared Bar's dismissal "unlawful".[30]

Personal life

Bar's wife, Dafna, is a sister of entrepreneur Shai Agassi.[31]

References

  1. ^ "Cabinet Appoints Harvard Graduate Ronen Bar as New Shin Bet Chief". JewishPress.com. 11 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  2. ^ "רונן בר". רשת 13.
  3. ^ a b "Cabinet approves nomination of Ronen Bar as next Shin Bet chief". The Times of Israel. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Wrobel, Sharon (11 October 2021). "'The Right Man in The Right Place': Israel Appoints Ronen Bar as New Head of Shin Bet Security Service". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (13 October 2021). "New Shin Bet chief: Agency won't stand idly by as crime rises in Arab community". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  6. ^ אזולאי, מורן (21 March 2025). "הממשלה אישרה את הדחת ראש השב"כ, שלא הגיע לדיון: "אין בו אמון מאז 7/10"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  7. ^ "N12 - הותר לפרסום: רונן בר הוא ראש השב"כ החדש". N12 (in Hebrew). 11 October 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  8. ^ Rubin, Shira (16 October 2023). "How Hamas's carefully planned Israel attack devolved into a chaotic rampage". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  9. ^ "In recording, Shin Bet chief vows to kill Hamas chiefs 'in Lebanon, Turkey, Qatar'". The Times of Israel. Jerusalem, Israel. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Full text: In letter to cabinet, Bar says his firing 'entirely tainted by conflicts of interest'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  11. ^ Berman, Lazar (21 March 2025). "Cabinet fires Shin Bet chief; PM claims lack of trust in Bar, who calls move invalid". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  12. ^ Berman, Lazar (21 March 2025). "Cabinet fires Shin Bet chief; PM claims lack of trust in Bar, who calls move invalid". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  13. ^ Barsky, Anna (21 March 2025). "Why dismiss Shin Bet head? Newly leaked quotes from Netanyahu reveal rationale". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  14. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (20 March 2025). "Defying AG, cabinet schedules Thursday night vote to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Israel supreme court freezes PM bid to sack intel chief". France 24. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Opposition parties, NGOs petition High Court to intervene in Shin Bet chief's firing". The Times of Israel. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  17. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (9 April 2025). "After chaotic hearing, High Court rules Netanyahu can't fire Shin Bet chief Bar for now". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  18. ^ Melzer, Natalie (29 April 2025). "Israel's domestic security chief says he will step down in June, defusing battle with Netanyahu". AP News. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  19. ^ Kershner, Isabel (21 April 2025). "Israeli Security Chief Accuses Netanyahu of Making Improper Requests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025.
  20. ^ a b Eichner, Itamar; Azulay, Moran (21 March 2025). "Top court freezes dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar". Ynetnews. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Atkinson, Emily; Baker, Graeme (21 March 2025). "Ronen Bar: Israel's Supreme Court freezes PM's order to sack security chief". BBC. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  23. ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (21 April 2025). "Israeli Security Chief Accuses Netanyahu of Making Improper Requests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  24. ^ Breuer, Eliav (23 April 2025). "Calls for Netanyahu's incapacitation increase after Shin Bet chief affidavit". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  25. ^ a b "'Out of deep concern for the State of Israel': Full text of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar's affidavit". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  26. ^ a b Yoaz, Yuval (23 April 2025). "Ronen Bar's bombshell affidavit puts the ball squarely in attorney general's court". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  27. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (23 April 2025). "Netanyahu reportedly asked Ronen Bar to act against protest leader Gonen Ben Yitzhak". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  28. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (21 April 2025). "Bar says Netanyahu demanded personal loyalty, obedience to him and not Supreme Court". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  29. ^ Eyal, Nadav (18 March 2025). "The letter that led to Netanyahu's decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar". Ynetnews. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Israeli supreme court rules Netanyahu's sacking of security chief 'unlawful'". France 24. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  31. ^ אייכנר, איתמר; זיתון, יואב; רובינשטיין, רועי (11 October 2021). "כבר לא ר': אושר מינויו של רונן בר לראש השב"כ". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 March 2023.

Media related to Ronen Bar at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronen_Bar&oldid=1292548342"