Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Announces Resignation: Cites Responsibility for October 7 war

 Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, announced Monday evening that he will resign from his post effective June 15. The announcement came during a memorial event at the Shin Bet headquarters for the organization's fallen members.

Bar's resignation follows a month-long legal and political firestorm over his potential dismissal, and he used the occasion to speak candidly about institutional integrity, political pressure, and the failures of October 7, 2023.

Calls for Clarity on Government Oversight

In his remarks, Bar said that his decision stems from a broader concern over the independence of Israel's security institutions. “Clarification is required regarding the institutional protections that will allow each service chief to fulfill his role, subject to government policy, for the benefit of the public, independently and free from pressure,” Bar said.

“The court hearing is not about my personal affairs,” he continued, “but about the independence of future Shin Bet chiefs.” Bar added that he is willing to cooperate with any court procedures to help clarify these constitutional and governance issues.

October 7 Accountability: “The Sky Fell”

Bar took responsibility for the Shin Bet’s failure to prevent the October 7 Hamas attacks, which resulted in widespread casualties and global shock.

“One night, on the southern front, the sky fell. All the systems collapsed,” he said. “The Shin Bet also failed to give a warning. As the head of the organization, I took responsibility for this — and now I have chosen to announce its implementation and my decision to end my duties.”

However, Bar pushed back against claims that the agency underestimated the threat. “The Shin Bet was not complacent,” he asserted. “There was an understanding of the Hamas threat and ongoing efforts to confront it — and yet we failed.”

He called for a full investigation through a state commission to ensure accountability and transparency.

Secret Talks and Legal Allegations

Bar’s resignation is set against the backdrop of intense legal proceedings regarding the nature of his dismissal and alleged political interference by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an affidavit submitted last week to the High Court of Justice, Bar claimed that Netanyahu held off-the-record meetings with him, instructing him not to document the conversations. According to Bar, Netanyahu requested sensitive information about Israeli protest activists and attempted to pressure him into expressing legal opinions that would benefit the Prime Minister in his own court proceedings.

Netanyahu, in a formal response yesterday, denied key parts of Bar’s affidavit but did not dispute that such conversations occurred. The Prime Minister accused Bar of fabricating claims and presented classified protocols of conversations in an attempt to discredit him.

However, a report published Monday challenged Netanyahu’s narrative, revealing that he selectively quoted from those classified records and omitted material contradicting his claims. The report suggests Netanyahu may have distorted the context and content of conversations to protect himself legally and politically.

Implications for the High Court and Future of Shin Bet

Bar’s resignation is expected to open the path for Netanyahu to appoint a successor. Still, the High Court must now decide whether to issue a ruling of principle regarding the limits of executive power over security services, or to close the case following Bar's departure.

Some petitioners insist the court should proceed with a ruling to protect the long-term independence of security institutions. A decision from the justices is anticipated in the coming days.

Bar concluded his address with a call for humility and responsibility: “Those of us who chose public service and the protection of state security as our life’s mission, and we failed in providing a security blanket that day, must bow our heads in humility… We have no legitimacy to lead without it.”