Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has reversed his decision regarding the appointment of his nominee for the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service, the Shin Bet. This move came after facing criticism from conservative allies and reports that the nominee had expressed objections to judicial reforms advocated by Mr. Netanyahu’s government.
Initially, Mr. Netanyahu had endorsed Eli Sharvit, a former commander of Israel’s navy, to lead the Shin Bet following the dismissal of the previous chief, Ronen Bar. The dismissal of Mr. Bar had already ignited protests and unrest. However, Mr. Sharvit faced backlash, primarily due to a column he penned two months prior, where he criticized President Trump for his environmental policy rollbacks.
In a subsequent meeting, Mr. Netanyahu informed Mr. Sharvit that he would be seeking alternative candidates for the position, though no explicit reasons were provided. As the domestic security agency, the Shin Bet is pivotal in managing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the prolonged occupation of the West Bank.
Mr. Netanyahu’s decision to remove Mr. Bar last month was justified by a claimed erosion of trust, though critics viewed it as an effort to eliminate dissent within Israel’s security hierarchy. Under Mr. Bar’s leadership, the Shin Bet had been probing the connections between some of Mr. Netanyahu’s aides and Qatar, investigating allegations of financial transactions with individuals tied to the Qatari government.
The Israeli Supreme Court is poised to review petitions challenging Mr. Bar’s removal in the coming week, with legal experts suggesting a potential reversal of Mr. Netanyahu’s decision. Opponents of Mr. Netanyahu, particularly from left-wing and centrist factions, had expressed concerns that he might attempt to consolidate control over the agency by appointing a loyalist. Nonetheless, Mr. Sharvit, who stepped down from military service in 2021, was considered by many as a seasoned and competent leader.
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