Netanyahu Pulls Back Intelligence Chief Nomination Amid Widening Qatargate Probe

The nominee had participated in anti-government demonstrations and criticized President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu Pulls Back Intelligence Chief Nomination Amid Widening Qatargate Probe
Navy commander Vice Adm. Eli Sharvit on May 23, 2017. May-Tal Tzin/IDF Spokesperson's Unit/CC BY-SA 3.0
Dan M. Berger
Updated:
0:00

Under fire from the right wing of his coalition government and Trump supporters in the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has withdrawn his nomination for head of the nation’s internal security force, the Shin Bet.

Netanyahu had on March 31 nominated former Navy commander Vice Adm. Eli Sharvit to head the domestic intelligence agency, after he fired chief Ronen Bar—an action being challenged in the courts.