Internal Israeli Divisions Worsen Amid Security Chief’s Claims

By: Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Wahhab

The affidavit submitted by the head of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, to the Supreme Court has captured widespread political and media attention in Tel Aviv. The affidavit revealed that the decision to dismiss him was due to his refusal to show personal loyalty to the Prime Minister rather than performance issues. Media estimates described the government's targeting of the Shin Bet chief as a systematic move to subordinate the security apparatus to political loyalty instead of professional standards.

Opposition figures and media outlets described the affidavit as a criminal indictment against Netanyahu. Local media leaks from Ronen Bar’s testimony indicated that Netanyahu had requested illegal operations, including using Shin Bet resources to monitor anti-government protestors. The affidavit also stated that Bar was clearly informed he must obey the Prime Minister rather than the Supreme Court in the event of a constitutional crisis.

Israeli media widely covered reactions to Bar’s affidavit. The newspaper Maariv highlighted the main points, emphasizing that excluding Bar from the hostage negotiation team harmed the chances of securing releases. A Yedioth Ahronoth opinion piece stated that Netanyahu’s demands to ignore the law reflected an intention to destroy democracy. The Israel Broadcasting Authority reported that the confidential section of Bar’s affidavit included detailed information about investigations involving Netanyahu’s associates. Bar stated he did not know the official reason for his dismissal, although the sequence of events suggested that it was driven by expectations of personal loyalty rather than professional concerns. The affidavit sparked mass protests in central Tel Aviv.

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office accused Ronen Bar of lying and seeking to overthrow the government. Channel 13 focused on the media battle between executive and security institutions, noting accusations from Netanyahu’s office that Bar failed to confront political incitement and mishandled the events of October 7. Although internal divisions within Israeli society were evident in early 2023 with protests against executive overreach, the aftermath of October 7 and the Gaza war have deepened societal and political fractures.

Opposition leaders held a consultation and released a statement warning that the Prime Minister’s behavior, as described by the Shin Bet chief, jeopardized the state’s security, future, and existence. They agreed to request an emergency Knesset session to discuss the developments. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Likud’s statement accusing Bar of turning parts of Shin Bet into a deep-state militia, warning that such claims cross red lines. Lapid stated that Likud should support the security agencies safeguarding the state instead of encouraging incitement.

Likud responded by accusing Lapid of contributing to incitement while staying silent about threats against the Prime Minister. National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz described Bar’s affidavit as courageous, revealing the infiltration of personal interests into Israel’s decision-making process. Meanwhile, the Air Force leadership conducted internal consultations to consider measures against reservists who signed a protest letter against the Gaza war, including around 60 active-duty soldiers and seven pilots.

Reflecting the internal divisions, opinion polls showed that 45% of Israelis believed Bar’s affidavit, while 33% sided with Netanyahu. Yair Lapid warned of the risk of political assassinations amid the climate of incitement and extremism, identifying Ronen Bar as a potential target. Opposition demands for Netanyahu’s resignation escalated, with claims that his continued leadership posed a clear threat to national security and the rule of law.