Israel Business Forum Urges Netanyahu to Reconsider Dismissal of Shin Bet Chief

The Israel Business Forum, which represents the majority of private-sector workers from the country’s largest 200 companies, has issued a strong call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse his decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The forum has labeled this move as “destructive” and warned of its potentially harmful effects on Israel during one of its most challenging times in recent history.

In a statement, the forum emphasized the severity of the current situation Israel faces, highlighting security, economic, and social challenges. It expressed concern that internal conflicts, such as the firing of key security officials, would only further weaken the nation when it is most vulnerable. The forum specifically criticized Netanyahu’s decision as a conflict of interest and a violation of the law during a time of national crisis.

The forum's statement underscores that Israel's enemies are closely observing the country's internal conflicts, with concern that political instability could undermine the nation’s security. The forum warns that such a move could lead Israel down the same path that preceded the devastating October 7 attack, suggesting that internal infighting could detract from critical efforts to bolster national security.

Rather than engaging in internal battles, the forum urges Netanyahu to focus on the pressing matters at hand. The statement emphasized that Israel’s immediate priorities should be the return of the 59 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, the establishment of a state investigation committee as agreed with the president, and the restoration of national deterrence, as well as the rehabilitation of the country’s economy and society.

The call for unity and focus on national security comes at a time when Israel is facing heightened internal and external pressures. The forum’s intervention reflects the growing concerns of Israel’s business community over the potential consequences of political infighting on national stability.

However, in a dramatic development, Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar has partially accepted and partially rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire him 18 months ahead of schedule. Bar announced he would resign early, but only after significant progress on two critical national issues: securing the return of Israeli hostages and finalizing the Qatargate investigation. Furthermore, Bar stressed he would remain in his role until his successor was fully prepared to take over.

This rare and unprecedented move by both Bar and Netanyahu could escalate into a constitutional crisis, as it challenges long-standing norms around the Shin Bet chief’s tenure, which typically lasts five years. Bar’s response comes after Netanyahu’s attempt to fire him, which Bar described as politically motivated to avoid accountability for failures surrounding Hamas's October 7 invasion and the ongoing Qatargate scandal.

Key Issues Raised by Bar

Bar has expressed that his early resignation was a decision made due to his failure to prevent the Hamas invasion, and he questioned Netanyahu’s timing and reasoning behind his dismissal. According to Bar, Netanyahu’s move was not about the Shin Bet’s performance but rather about political maneuvering. He suggested that Netanyahu wanted to deflect blame for his own failure to heed security warnings from the agency, which highlighted critical policy decisions that endangered Israeli security.

Regarding Qatargate, the scandal involves allegations that senior Netanyahu aides were paid by Qatar while handling sensitive negotiations on hostage policy. The Shin Bet has taken the lead in investigating these allegations due to the national security implications.

A Potential Constitutional Crisis

Bar’s refusal to immediately comply with Netanyahu’s order could create significant legal complications. While the prime minister has the legal authority to dismiss the Shin Bet chief, Bar’s stance challenges this power, raising questions about the need for intervention from Israel’s Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara or the High Court of Justice to resolve the matter.

Additionally, Bar pointed out that Netanyahu is not free to appoint just anyone as the new Shin Bet head. Customarily, one of the two recent deputy chiefs should be chosen for the role, and Bar emphasized that Netanyahu must respect this tradition.