Israel’s domestic security chief to step down on June 15, defusing battle with Netanyahu

Netanyahu moved to fire Shin Bet’s Ronen Bar last month over ‘crisis of confidence’ surrounding Hamas’ attacks, sparking uproar in Israel

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Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, centre, said on Monday he will step down as head of Israel’s domestic security service. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:45am, 29 Apr 2025

The head of Israel’s internal security service says he will resign in June over the failure of his agency to warn of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks – defusing an escalating battle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced his resignation on Monday night, saying he will formally step down on June 15.

Netanyahu moved to fire Bar last month over what he said was a crisis of confidence surrounding Hamas’ attacks. But the step sparked an uproar in Israel because the agency is investigating ties between the Israeli leader’s office and Qatar – a key mediator between Hamas and Israel over the war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military said on Monday it had struck more than 50 “terror targets” across Lebanon over the past month, despite a November ceasefire that ended a war between it and Hezbollah militants.

On Sunday, Israel struck south Beirut for the third time since the fragile November 27 ceasefire went into effect, prompting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to call on its guarantors France and the United States to force a halt.

“Over the past month, the IDF (military) has struck more than 50 terror targets across Lebanon. These strikes were carried out following violations of the ceasefire and understandings between Israel and Lebanon, which posed a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” the military said in a statement.