PMO Denies Netanyahu’s Plans to Fire Shin Bet Chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has strongly denied reports suggesting that he is considering dismissing Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, following heightened tensions over security concerns and allegations surrounding the prime minister’s office (PMO).

The reports, which surfaced earlier this week in Hebrew media, claimed that Netanyahu was contemplating firing Bar after two flare launches targeted his residence in Caesarea during anti-government protests on Saturday.

Sources close to the prime minister were quoted as saying that Netanyahu was frustrated with the Shin Bet’s failure to adequately protect him and his family during the demonstrations, leading to discussions about the potential dismissal of Bar.

However, the PMO dismissed these claims on Monday, labeling them as “completely unfounded” and stating that no discussions had taken place regarding Bar’s removal.

In a separate development, Netanyahu’s office reportedly requested a legal opinion from Shin Bet, asking the security service to justify why the prime minister should be exempt from testifying in his ongoing criminal trial, which is scheduled for December 2.

Netanyahu’s team expressed concerns about the security risks involved, citing the potential for drone and missile attacks by Iranian proxies during his court appearance, particularly given that the Jerusalem District Court lacks adequate safety measures, such as a bomb shelter.

The prime minister’s security concerns were underscored last month when a Hezbollah drone exploded near his Caesarea home, cracking a window.

Since then, Netanyahu has been working primarily from a protected basement-level room at the Prime Minister’s Office instead of his usual office on a higher floor.

Despite these concerns, the Shin Bet reportedly rejected Netanyahu’s request for a security-related exemption from testifying.

The refusal to comply with Netanyahu’s request has exacerbated growing tensions between the PMO and the security service.

Reports indicate that the Shin Bet is now exploring other options to enhance the prime minister’s security during his trial, but has made it clear that it will not accommodate Netanyahu’s legal request to avoid testifying.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel has called for an immediate halt to what it describes as a “smear campaign” against Bar.

The organization sent a letter to Netanyahu and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, demanding that the government cease its efforts to undermine the Shin Bet chief.

Bar, who has held the position of Shin Bet director since 2021, is currently serving a five-year term. While Israeli law allows the government to dismiss a director during their term, no Shin Bet chief has ever been fired in the country’s history, although two directors have resigned prematurely.

Adding to the tension, Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s son and a prominent far-right social media influencer, has publicly accused the Shin Bet of attempting to overthrow his father’s government. He also claimed that the security agency had tortured IDF soldiers, further fueling calls for Bar’s removal.

This rhetoric comes amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of top-secret documents from the IDF, one of which was reportedly leaked by a PMO spokesman.

In the face of these allegations, Netanyahu has defended his administration, accusing Israeli media of waging a coordinated attack against his leadership.

He claims that the investigations into his office are part of a broader effort to undermine the nation’s leadership during a time of war.

The growing tensions between the PMO and the Shin Bet highlight the ongoing political struggles within Israel’s leadership, as well as the deepening rift over national security and legal challenges facing Netanyahu.