The organization, which prevents attacks from abroad and at home, including by armed groups based in Palestine and Lebanon, was nominated by Netanyahu’s office on Monday, with the announcement that he had nominated Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit to lead it. The Supreme Court has nevertheless ordered Ronen Bar to be fired as head of Shin Bet.
The prime minister acknowledged Sharvit’s expertise when he claimed he had been chosen after conducting “in-depth interviews with seven respectable candidates.”
Sharvit, who had served in the military for 36 years, “managed complex operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran” according to the statement.
The announcement comes as far-right members of Netanyahu’s government coalition work to get the removal of Bar done.
Following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1, 139 people and about 250 others, Netanyahu announced in late March that he no longer had faith in the Shin Bet chief.
However, the government reacted to the firing of Bar, which caused widespread protests. The decision was allegedly motivated by political bias, according to critics, who claimed Shin Bet was looking into possible corruption among the prime minister’s close advisers.
Bar instead pointed the finger at the government instead of refuting Bar’s claim that the Shin Bet was to blame for the security failure on October 7.
The Supreme Court halted the dismissal pending further appeals before a hearing is scheduled for April 8. Following the filing of petitions by Israel’s opposition and nongovernmental organizations, a hearing is scheduled for April 8. Finding a new agency chief was still in the makings, though.
Benny Gantz, the party’s leader, questioned Netanyahu’s statement.
The prime minister made the decision this morning to continue his campaign against the judicial system and to provoke a dangerous constitutional crisis in Israel. The High Court decision must precede the appointment of the Shin Bet’s head, Gantz wrote on X.
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