Israeli Cabinet Backs Netanyahu’s Firing of Security Services Chief

Shin Bet director Ronen Bar did not attend the meeting where the vote on his dismissal took place.

Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery on May 13, 2024. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images

The Israeli cabinet voted on Friday to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to remove the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service amid protests against the move.

“The Government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to end [Israel Security Agency] Director Ronen Bar’s term of office,” Netanyahu’s office stated.