The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to dismiss the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, due to what he described as a "lack of trust" between them, which he considered an obstacle to managing sensitive security issues.

Netanyahu's office stated in an official statement released today, Sunday, that the Prime Minister informed Bar of his intention to present a proposal to the government for approval of the dismissal decision at its next meeting. Netanyahu said in the statement: "Full trust between the Prime Minister and the head of the Shin Bet is essential, especially in times of war. Unfortunately, this trust no longer exists."

This move comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between Netanyahu and Bar since the attack launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. The Shin Bet has faced sharp criticism for failing to predict the attack, amid accusations of an intelligence assessment failure.

Bar was among the few senior security officials who remained in their positions after the October 7 attack, while the security and military establishment witnessed a wave of resignations and dismissals due to security failures.

The dismissal decision is expected to be presented to the government for approval in a special meeting scheduled for next Wednesday. This move has sparked widespread debate in Israeli political circles, as opposition parties viewed it as Netanyahu's attempt to divert attention from his responsibility in the security failures.

Observers believe that Bar's dismissal could impact the ongoing investigations into the security failures, and it may also undermine the security establishment's confidence in Netanyahu's leadership amid the tense security situation in the region.