Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, in a controversial move that has ignited mass protests across the country.
The Israeli government unanimously approved the decision on Thursday, following tensions between Bar and Netanyahu’s administration.
The announcement triggered a wave of public outrage, with tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets since Tuesday.
Demonstrators clashed with police near Netanyahu’s residence, with officers deploying water cannons to disperse crowds. Reports indicate that some protesters attempted to breach police barricades, resulting in injuries and multiple arrests.
Among those affected was Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic opposition party, who was pushed to the ground by police while demonstrating.
Bar did not attend the government meeting in which he was fired, instead sending a strongly worded letter criticizing the process.
He accused Netanyahu of prioritizing “personal loyalty over loyalty to the public” and suggested that the prime minister’s reasoning was a cover for deeper political motives.
Netanyahu, in turn, blamed a so-called “leftist Deep State” for attempting to undermine his government, a claim he shared on social media.
The protests have also been fueled by frustration over the resumption of fighting in Gaza, which ended a two-month ceasefire. Families of hostages taken by Hamas have been particularly vocal, condemning the Israeli government’s decision to halt negotiations for a prisoner exchange.
Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, Germany, and several other nations, is still holding 59 hostages from the October 7 attack, with only around 20 believed to be alive.
Public sentiment in Israel appears to favor renewed negotiations for a hostage release, with recent polls showing a majority supporting a deal that would bring the war to an end and facilitate an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
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