Shin Bet Chief’s Affidavit: A Sobering Account of Pressure, Integrity, and National Responsibility

In a dramatic and unprecedented move, Ronen Bar, the director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), submitted a detailed affidavit to the High Court of Justice on April 22, 2025, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his contested dismissal. The 8-page public affidavit, accompanied by a longer classified version, paints a grave picture of what he describes as political interference in Israel’s internal security operations and his refusal to use the Shin Bet for political ends.

Bar’s testimony comes amidst growing public support for his continued leadership and amid an atmosphere of concern regarding Israel’s internal governance in a time of national crisis. His affidavit is not only a defense of his actions but a warning about the future of democratic institutions when security agencies are pressured to serve political rather than professional functions.

Bar’s statement outlines that his dismissal did not arise from professional failings, but rather from a growing expectation of personal loyalty to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He alleges that his refusal to comply with certain requests—such as interfering in protest movements, obstructing investigations linked to the Prime Minister’s associates, and drafting legal opinions that could halt Netanyahu’s criminal trial—ultimately led to a breakdown of trust.

A key moment came when Bar authorized investigations into suspected leaks and improper ties between individuals in the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatar. These investigations, he claims, provoked anger from the political echelon. Qatar, while acting as a mediator with Hamas, is widely known to support that terrorist group. Any suspicions of foreign influence within the Prime Minister’s inner circle therefore demand scrutiny, Bar argues.

Furthermore, Bar resisted multiple requests from the Prime Minister to deploy Shin Bet capabilities against protestors, including monitoring the identities of demonstrators and their financial backers. He affirms that such actions would have contravened the agency’s legal boundaries and moral responsibilities, and he consulted Israel’s legal counsel to ensure fidelity to the rule of law.

In what many observers see as the most sobering revelation, Bar testifies that he was explicitly told, in the context of a potential constitutional crisis, that he would be expected to obey the Prime Minister over the High Court. This chilling statement strikes at the heart of Israel’s democratic structure and raises fears of authoritarian overreach.

Bar’s affidavit also addresses the false claim that the Shin Bet failed to alert the leadership about the October 7 massacre in time. He maintains that the agency issued warnings—both months earlier and in the early hours of that tragic day. These included real-time alerts about Hamas activities and direct briefings to military command. Although the magnitude of the attack was underestimated, Bar stresses that no one, including the Shin Bet or the Prime Minister, foresaw such a coordinated onslaught.

He takes responsibility for the Shin Bet’s shortcomings but firmly rejects any suggestion that the agency concealed information or failed to act. He describes the accusations otherwise as part of an effort to shift blame away from critical policy errors that enabled Hamas to prepare for the attack undisturbed.

Bar’s removal from the team negotiating hostage releases with Hamas—right after the first wave of hostages returned—also raised suspicions. His affidavit suggests that this sudden exclusion, coupled with demands for an internal review submission, was politically motivated and risked undermining delicate security efforts.

Significantly, Bar notes that from the outbreak of the war until late 2024, the Prime Minister repeatedly praised the Shin Bet’s performance. It was only after Bar resisted political pressures and authorized sensitive investigations that a “lack of trust” was cited—a term that had never been mentioned to him prior to his dismissal.

Bar concludes by reflecting on his decades of service and the burden of responsibility he bears. While acknowledging that he will soon step down, he emphasizes that his affidavit is intended not to defend himself personally but to ensure the professional independence of the Shin Bet for future leaders. He warns that dismissals based on personal loyalty rather than professional merit endanger the very foundation of Israeli democracy and national security.