Israel Netanyahu rescinds appointment of intelligence chief
Shortly after appointing a new head of intelligence in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has withdrawn the decision.
01.04.2025, 10:28
01.04.2025, 10:29
SDA
Netanyahu thanked the former commander of the navy, Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit, at a meeting for his willingness to take on the post, the Prime Minister's Office announced. "However, he has informed him that after further consideration he wants to examine other candidates." No reasons were given for the withdrawal.
According to media reports, there had been criticism of the planned appointment of Sharvit because he had taken part in protests against government policy and criticized US President Donald Trump for his climate policy.
On Monday, Netanyahu's office announced that Sharvit was to succeed Ronen Bar as head of the secret service Shin Bet. The government had decided to dismiss Bar at the beginning of the month, triggering mass protests. The Supreme Court recently suspended Bar's dismissal for the time being with a temporary injunction. Despite the injunction against Bar's dismissal, the Supreme Court allowed successor candidates to be interviewed.
Netanyahu's relationship with Bar is considered strained
Netanyahu had justified Bar's dismissal with a "lack of trust" in the intelligence chief. Relations between the two have long been considered strained. Among other things, the Shin Bet is investigating confidants of Netanyahu for alleged relations with Qatar. Alongside Egypt and the USA, the Gulf emirate is one of the negotiators in the indirect talks with the Islamist Hamas, but is also considered a supporter of the terrorist organization.
Netanyahu also did not come off well in a further investigation by the secret service into the mistakes that made the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023 possible. The terror attack triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
