Prime Minister Netanyahu in a social media address to the nation about his issues with Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet (Source: video clip - @amitsegal/X)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech to the nation (Video snippet)

Netanyahu Accuses Shin Bet Chief of Rogue Probe Into Ben Gvir

Details
The Judean Staff
Politics

In what critics are calling a political earthquake shaking the foundations of Israel’s democratic institutions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unleashed a stunning accusation against Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, claiming that the head of Israel's internal security agency conducted a rogue investigation into far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir—without the prime minister’s consent.

The bombshell allegations mark an unprecedented escalation in the government’s war against its own security apparatus, and appear to validate long-held warnings by protest leaders that Netanyahu's coalition is actively undermining the independence of Israel’s law enforcement and intelligence bodies.

A Government at War With Itself

At the center of the controversy is a Channel 12 News exposé, which reported that the Shin Bet had launched a covert investigation into the infiltration of extremist right-wing operatives—some with links to the banned Kahanist movement—into the ranks of the Israeli police. The report further alleged that these activities may be connected to Ben Gvir, a polarizing minister whose party, Otzma Yehudit, resides on the furthest fringe of the Israeli right.

Bar, a seasoned intelligence veteran, reportedly spearheaded the probe after suspecting a growing influence of ultra-nationalist ideology within the police force—an institution Ben Gvir oversees as National Security Minister.

Rather than backing the inquiry, Netanyahu exploded in anger. In a sharply worded statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier accused Bar of betraying democratic norms and plotting in secret.

> “The claim that the Prime Minister authorized Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to gather evidence against Minister Ben Gvir is yet another exposed lie,” the PMO stated, branding the report a “shattered falsehood.”

But the accusations didn’t end there.

Shin Bet’s Investigation Compared to “Dark Regimes”

The PMO went further, declaring that Bar’s alleged directive to collect evidence against political officials was “reminiscent of dark regimes” and an attempt to "topple a right-wing government through subversive means." The language invoked imagery of autocracies and totalitarian states, underscoring the gravity of the internal crisis.

Netanyahu claimed he had instructed Bar to confront Ben Gvir directly with any suspicions and forbade him from launching an investigation “behind the minister’s back.” According to Netanyahu, Bar agreed—but never followed through.

Meanwhile, in a rare public rebuke, the Shin Bet initially appeared to acknowledge the probe, only to later issue a second, sharply worded statement denying any formal investigation had ever been launched—into the police or political figures.

> “There is no Shin Bet probe now and there never was,” the agency insisted.

The conflicting signals from Israel's most secretive agency only deepened the confusion, prompting urgent questions about who is telling the truth—and who is using Israel’s intelligence services as political pawns.

Supreme Court Intervenes to Stop Netanyahu's Purge

Amid the firestorm, the Israeli Supreme Court made a bold move of its own—temporarily blocking the Netanyahu government's bid to fire Bar. The court’s decision arrived mere hours after the cabinet had approved Netanyahu’s proposal to oust the Shin Bet chief, citing “a loss of confidence.”

The Supreme Court's intervention has sharply polarized Israeli society once again, pitting defenders of institutional independence against a government accused of consolidating unchecked power.

Ben Gvir: From Fringe Radical to Political Kingmaker

Ben Gvir, once a political pariah known for his extremist past, has emerged as a powerful—and dangerous—force in Netanyahu’s coalition. His reaction to the scandal was as explosive as the allegations themselves.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ben Gvir labeled Ronen Bar a “liar” and a “criminal,” accusing him of “plotting a conspiracy against elected officials in a democratic country.” He referenced recently revealed documents as proof of Bar's guilt.

Ben Gvir's history continues to haunt him. In the mid-1990s, he famously brandished the hood ornament from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s car on live television, warning that if he could get that close to Rabin’s vehicle, others could get close to Rabin himself. Weeks later, Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing extremist—Yigal Amir—whose ideological circles overlap with some members of Ben Gvir’s own political base.

The Bigger Picture: Democracy in Crisis

This latest scandal is more than a political drama—it is a clear sign that Israel’s governing coalition is now actively at odds with the very security infrastructure that protects the state.

Pro-democracy advocates argue this is not an isolated incident but rather the latest chapter in a broader campaign by Netanyahu’s government to gut the judicial system, muzzle dissent, and exert political control over law enforcement. The attempted dismissal of Ronen Bar—despite a court order—echoes autocratic tactics seen in illiberal democracies across the globe.

The question now facing Israel is chilling in its simplicity: Can its institutions survive a government that views them as enemies?

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