Israeli Spy Chief Accuses Netanyahu of Attempted Firing Over Refusal to Commit Illegal Acts

Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to dismiss him for refusing to carry out illegal actions aimed at protecting the Prime Minister’s personal and political interests, Al Jazeera reports.

In a bombshell affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday, Bar alleged that Netanyahu’s decision last month to fire him was directly linked to his refusal to comply with several requests, including taking action against anti-government protesters and shielding the Prime Minister from testifying in his ongoing corruption trial.

The Supreme Court has suspended Netanyahu’s attempt to remove Bar, pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the dismissal. This has triggered widespread protests, with demonstrators accusing Netanyahu of endangering Israeli democracy.

While Netanyahu’s office claims the firing was due to a breakdown in trust stemming from Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Bar alleges the motive stems from a series of events between November 2024 and February 2025.

According to the unclassified portion of the affidavit, Netanyahu repeatedly pressured Bar to use Shin Bet to target Israelis involved in anti-government demonstrations, “with a particular focus on monitoring the protests’ financial backers.” Bar also claims he refused to approve a security request designed to prevent Netanyahu from testifying in his corruption trial, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust.

The controversy intensifies as Shin Bet was also investigating financial ties between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar, a key mediator in the Gaza war. Critics suggest the dismissal is a conflict of interest aimed at derailing the “Qatargate” investigation. Furthermore, Shin Bet was independently investigating potential government negligence regarding warnings leading up to the October 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 Israelis and the abduction of approximately 250 people.

Over 50 hostages remain in Gaza.  Netanyahu and his hardline Zionist coalition have faced significant criticism for their perceived failure to secure a ceasefire and the return of the remaining captives. The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 51,000 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Netanyahu’s office has vehemently denied Bar’s allegations, calling the affidavit “full of lies.” They further stated that Bar had “failed miserably” during the Hamas attack and refuted claims that the firing was an attempt to obstruct the “Qatargate” probe.

Political watchdogs and opposition lawmakers challenged the legality of Bar’s dismissal, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene. The ongoing battle over the spy chief’s position has further fueled public anger regarding the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.

While accepting responsibility for Shin Bet’s failure to prevent the October 7 attack, Bar stated on Monday that he would “soon announce the date of my resignation,” suggesting a resignation regardless of the outcome of the investigation.