Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken an unprecedented step in the country's political life, announcing in a press release published on the evening of Sunday, March 16, that he intends to "submit a draft resolution to the government this week to dismiss the head of the General Security Service." He is looking to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the powerful domestic intelligence service, better known in Israel as the Shin Bet.

The prime minister said he had "no confidence" in Bar, adding that "distrust has only grown with time." The Shin Beth has notably opened an investigation into several of his close associates. Bar, who has acknowledged his responsibilities in the security fiasco that led to the October 7 massacre, has pointed to the government's failings in the months leading up to the Hamas attack.

For the time being, the head of the Shin Bet remains in his post, but he has condemned Netanyahu's "expectation of personal loyalty to him," which he believes violates the public interest as well as the laws and values according to which the intelligence services operate. If the government votes to dismiss him, Bar would comply. This is the first time in Israel's history that a Shin Bet chief has been targeted by such a procedure.

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