Netanyahu Alleges Shin Bet Chief Launched Qatargate Probe to Prevent Dismissal
- paolo bibat
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar of orchestrating the "Qatargate" investigation into alleged ties between Netanyahu's office and Qatar as a ploy to avoid being fired.
In a video released on Saturday, Netanyahu claimed, without evidence, that Bar colluded with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to derail his dismissal.
Netanyahu defended his decision to fire Bar, stating it was made well before the investigation began. ""Ronen Bar will not remain head of the Shin Bet. There will not be a civil war, and Israel will remain a democratic state.Israel is a state of law, and the law clearly states that the government has the right to dismiss the heads of security agencies before the end of their term,” Netanyahu said. He added that Bar's removal was finalized after receiving Shin Bet’s report on its failures during Hamas’s October 7 attacks.
The Qatargate probe was officially launched on February 15, following suspicions raised by Labor MK Gilad Kariv about foreign influence in Netanyahu's administration.
Netanyahu suggested the timing of the investigation announcement—February 27—was suspicious, coinciding with Bar missing a deadline to submit findings on the October 7 attacks.
However, Shin Bet clarified that the investigation had already begun weeks earlier and extended beyond Netanyahu's office to other government ministries.
Bar’s dismissal has sparked public outrage and mass protests across Israel, with critics accusing Netanyahu of undermining democratic institutions and using political maneuvers to consolidate power.
The Israeli Supreme Court temporarily froze Bar’s ousting pending further review, intensifying tensions between the judiciary and Netanyahu’s government.
Bar, who has led Shin Bet since 2021, has been at odds with Netanyahu over mutual blame for security lapses during Hamas’s attacks and allegations of bribery linked to the Prime Minister’s office.
The ongoing Qatargate investigation adds another layer of complexity to the political turmoil surrounding Netanyahu’s leadership.
