Domestic security chief of Israel announces resignation for June, ending dispute with Netanyahu.
Headline: Israel's Security Chief Resigns Over Hamas Attack, Fueling Political Tensions
Story:
In the city of Tel Aviv, the head honcho at Israel's internal security service, Ronen Bar, announced his resignation set for June 15th. The announcement came during a memorial event for those Shin Bet soldiers who paid the ultimate price.
"On the southern front, the skies came down, and all systems collapsed," Bar declared. "The Shin Bet also failed to give a warning."
Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, initiated moves to fire Bar last month, citing a lack of confidence amidst the Palestinian militant group's attack. Yet, this decision sparked outrage due to concerns that the Shin Bet was investigating the ties between Netanyahu's office and Qatar – a vital mediator in talks between Hamas and Israel during the Gaza war.
Critics asserted that the dismissal was a clear attempt to derail the investigation and checkmate potential conflicts of interest, a claim that Netanyahu firmly denies.
The nation's Supreme Court intervened, suspending the firing, and urged the parties to reach a compromise agreement.
Bar expressed his concern for the Shin Bet's independence, stating, "Proper functioning is of inestimable importance to the security of the state and to Israeli democracy."
Last week, Bar submitted a document claiming Netanyahu aimed to exploit the Shin Bet for personal and political gain. The document accused the Prime Minister of seeking to spy on antigovernment protesters and trying to block his corruption trial by claiming that Netanyahu could not testify due to security concerns.
Netanyahu branded these accusations as fabrications, retaliating with his allegations against Bar.
The Prime Minister often complains about a perceived "deep state" of unelected officials and judges, whom he accuses of trying to usurp his power. Advocates of good governance fear that Bar's ouster will pave the way for Netanyahu to appoint a loyalist to the sensitive position.
The Shin Bet is tasked with monitoring Palestinian militant groups, and Bar acknowledged his agency's failures related to the October 7th attack. Despite this, a report issued in March by the agency also criticized Netanyahu, highlighting how failed government policies helped create the climate that led to the attack.
Bar is not the first senior security figure to leave or face termination post-October 7th. Among those who left are the former defense minister and army chief.
During the memorial, Bar spoke out, emphasizing that "everyone who failed to provide a security blanket that day must bow our heads in humility before the victims and act accordingly."
The Qatar investigation forms part of a series of scandals that have recently cast a shadow over Netanyahu's leadership. The Shin Bet is looking into allegations that close advisors worked as paid consultants for Qatar while also working for the Prime Minister. Netanyahu, facing a series of corruption charges, has not been directly implicated in the scandal.
Earlier this month, Netanyahu attempted to appoint a former navy commander as thenew Shin Bet chief. However, the appointment was shelved less than 24 hours later when it emerged that the nominee had participated in antigovernment protests.
Haaretz additional readings:- "Israeli inquiry on killings of Palestinian medics in Gaza notes 'failures'; deputy commander fired"- "Israeli troops move deeper into Gaza as its top court halts firing of security chief"- "Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel's internal security chief as power struggle boils over"
Background:The "Qatargate" investigation into ties between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Qatar continues. Key points in the investigation encompass:- Netanyahu's role: While not a suspect, Netanyahu has testified and denies the accusations are ill-founded.- Advisers under scrutiny: Two of Netanyahu's aides, Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, are suspected of taking money from Qatar to bolster its image in Israel.- Shin Bet's role: The security agency is leading the investigation, focusing on potential corruption and bribery.- Bar's resignation: Although not directly connected to the Qatargate probe, the situation has intensified broader tensions within Israeli security and political circles.
- The resignation of Ronen Bar, the head of Israel's internal security service, set for June 15th, has fueled political tensions in Israel, particularly in relation to the ongoing investigation into ties between the Israeli Prime Minister's office and Qatar.
- Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, had previously moved to dismiss Bar, citing a lack of confidence amidst the Palestinian militant group's attack, a decision that sparked outrage due to concerns about derailing the investigation.
- Critics claim that the dismissal was an attempt to derail the Qatar investigation and checkmate potential conflicts of interest, a claim that Netanyahu firmly denies.
- The Shin Bet, tasked with monitoring Palestinian militant groups, is leading the Qatargate investigation, looking into potential corruption and bribery.
- Amidst the political tensions, there is hope for justice as the nation's Supreme Court intervened, suspending the firing of Bar, and urged the parties to reach a compromise agreement.
- The recent upheaval in Israel's politics and security, exemplified by Bar's resignation and the Qatargate investigation, highlights the importance of infrastructure like policy-and-legislation and politics for maintaining the general-news and ensuring peace in war-and-conflicts regions, like California.
