Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) deputy chief “S” will replace outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar this coming Sunday, a source in the Prime Minister's Office told The Jerusalem Post. 

The deputy chief will fill this role until the expected completion of IDF Maj.-Gen. David Zini's appointment process, or within a month, whichever should come first, the source noted. 

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara confirmed the legality of S’s appointment of “S” in a legal advisory opinion penned by Deputy Attorney-General Gil Limon. 

Limon wrote that “exceptional circumstances have arisen,” and that despite the prime minister being in a conflict of interest on the matter, it is possible to assign the role to the proposed Shin Bet candidate for the period of one month. 

(L-R) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar (credit: Canva)
(L-R) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar (credit: Canva)

Bar's intention to step down

Bar announced in April that he would step down on June 15. The conflict of interest refers to investigations the agency is carrying out into Qatari connections to and influences on figures close to Netanyahu and in the PMO. 

This conflict of interest was cemented by an advisory opinion from Limon on May 26, where he said that Netanyahu can't touch the appointment and should transfer the responsibility to another minister, something that has not yet been done. This followed a similar ruling by the High Court of Justice.

Limon did not mention Zini in his opinion, but rather insisted that the responsibility be transferred to another minister, which was in line with the previous legal opinions.

The Movement for Quality Government echoed this, stating, “The High Court of Justice has already ruled that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest and is prohibited from being involved in the appointment of the Shin Bet head. On the same day, the appointment of... was announced. Zini was published, the attorney general ruled that this decision was “invalid and illegal.”

On Wednesday, MQG filed a petition to the court asking that it prevent the position of Shin Bet head from being vacant. “The country cannot have an interim appointment in the most sensitive security position, during a time of war and while the Shin Bet is investigating serious security investigations in the prime minister's office,” it said.

MQG also noted that Bar must remain in his position until a replacement is appointed. As noted, Bar said he would resign on June 15. 

Netanyahu has been trying to fire Bar since November 2024. On March 15, Netanyahu informed Bar of his intent to propose his dismissal, citing a “continued lack of trust,” which he argued dates back to October 7. 

However, Bar said in his affidavit submitted to the High Court of Justice that his removal from office was initiated after he refused several requests by the prime minister, including to recommend that the testimonies in his criminal trial cannot be heard at this time, and to surveil civilians who are active in the protest movement against the government. 

The Shin Bet chief had already made clear his intention to end his tenure as head of Israel's intelligence agency, confirming the date at the memorial event for fallen Shin Bet personnel at the agency's headquarters in late April. 

Bar cited the October 7 massacre as the reason, stating that it was incumbent on every public service that “failed to provide a blanket of security” on October 7 to “bow their heads humbly before the murdered, the fallen, the wounded, the hostages, and their families, and act accordingly. All of us.”