JERUSALEM:
A heated public dispute has erupted between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of the country’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, over proposed reforms to the organization, which has faced criticism for its failure to prevent the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Netanyahu has accused Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar of using “blackmail” and “threats” to resist the proposed changes. The tension escalated on Thursday when Bar’s predecessor, Nadav Argaman, added fuel to the fire during an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 television.
Argaman stated, “I keep all private conversations between the prime minister and myself confidential. It’s clear that I possess significant knowledge that I could use, but I choose not to.” He warned, however, that if Netanyahu were to act unlawfully, he would reveal everything he knows to protect the integrity of the relationship between the Shin Bet chief and the prime minister.
Argaman also expressed concern over Netanyahu’s actions, saying, “I’m deeply troubled by the fact that the prime minister is deliberately dividing Israeli society and creating friction to maintain his grip on power.”
Netanyahu responded sharply on social media platform X, accusing Argaman of engaging in “live, on-air extortion against a sitting prime minister” and making “Mafia-style criminal threats.” He also alleged that Bar was involved in a campaign of “threats and media leaks” aimed at blocking reforms necessary to address Shin Bet’s failures.
The Shin Bet, formally known as the Internal Security Agency, has faced intense scrutiny since the October 7 attack, which it admitted could have been prevented had it acted differently. In a rare public statement, the agency denounced the accusations against its chief as “baseless” and expressed concern over the politicization of its operations.
The controversy highlights the deepening rift between Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s security establishment, as the prime minister pushes for reforms in the wake of what has been described as one of the most devastating security failures in the country’s history.
The October 7 attack, carried out by Hamas, resulted in significant casualties and has led to widespread calls for accountability and restructuring within Israel’s security agencies. The ongoing public feud underscores the challenges Netanyahu faces in balancing political pressures with the need to restore public trust in the nation’s security apparatus.
