Ronen Bar
Ronen Bar is an Israeli intelligence officer who served as the director of the Israeli Security Agency from 13 October 2021 to 15 June 2025. He replaced Nadav Argaman, after having served as his deputy since 2018. Bar was appointed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his nomination was approved by Israel's cabinet on 11 October 2021. He assumed office on 13 October 2021 and was fired in March 2025, though his firing was suspended by the High Court of Israel. He submitted his resignation in April, which came into effective in June.
Standing...
Stories...
Aug 17, 2026
Lean Left
The Shin Bet chief's ouster was approved after his agency investigated covert Qatari money flowing to Netanyahu aides.
Labor/Meretz view his firing as retaliation for investigating the prime minister's circle, proof that the government protects itself before the public.
Aug 17, 2026
Far Left
The sacked Shin Bet chief is at the heart of a legal and political storm after his investigation exposed ties between Prime Minister's Office staff and Qatar.
Hadash defends the independence of the security service and sees his purge as a dangerous precedent, while noting his agency's record on Gaza has never been pacifist.
Aug 15, 2026
Lean Right
As Shin Bet chief, Bar oversaw the arrest of the suspect who damaged Netanyahu's convoy vehicle.
Likud supports Bar's agency for catching the suspect, but some on the right distrust Shin Bet's leaks against Netanyahu.
Aug 12, 2026
Lean Right
The Shin Bet chief oversaw the arrest of the suspect who damaged Netanyahu's convoy vehicle.
Likud trusts Shin Bet to handle the investigation but watches for any political fallout that opponents might try to attach to the prime minister.
Aug 12, 2026
Lean Left
In light of his dismissal, the former Shin Bet chief is preparing testimony that lays out the intelligence failures of the government's security concept.
His revelations are vital for the left's argument that Netanyahu's political directives are a threat to the state itself.
Aug 9, 2026
Far Left
The Shin Bet chief is at the center of a legal clash after Netanyahu announced his dismissal over investigations into government figures.
Hadash backs Bar's refusal to become a political pawn, viewing his defense of the agency as a last barrier to unchecked executive power.
Aug 7, 2026
Lean Left
The Shin Bet chief is fighting Netanyahu's attempt to dismiss him, with the attorney general and the High Court intervening.
Labor/Meretz sees this as a purge aimed at silencing the one security official probing the PM's conduct.
Aug 4, 2026
Lean Left
The Shin Bet director is resisting his dismissal, appeals to the High Court, and warns of a politically motivated purge after October 7.
He is viewed by the left as a professional security chief and a last check on Netanyahu, so his defiance is applauded and defended.
Aug 2, 2026
Far Left
The Shin Bet chief is fighting for his job after Netanyahu moved to dismiss him over security and hostage failure disputes.
Hadash supports Bar as a security official being punished for telling the truth about government obstruction of a hostage deal.
Aug 1, 2026
Far Left
The former Shin Bet chief is testifying against the government's crackdown on dissent while Netanyahu seeks to bury investigations into the October 7 failures.
Hadash supports Bar's exposure of the regime's decay but insists that true security requires ending the occupation, not policing it more efficiently.