When it comes to the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, there is no “good” side to the story – only a cunning and evil side, versus a foolish and evil side.
Two days after his dismissal was announced, Israeli media published a photo of Bar alongside the newly appointed army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, during the command of Israel’s surprise attack on Gaza’s civilian population, which took place as Palestinians awoke in the predawn hours to eat before Ramadan fasting began.
On one side of this story stands Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is gambling on the rise of the far right in the West – an agenda reinforced by US President Donald Trump’s aggressive opposition to the post-World War II global order, the very framework that created institutions like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Netanyahu envisions a world where raw military power dictates reality without accountability. His primary concerns are his corruption trial, and the ongoing Shin Bet investigations into media leaks and the “Qatargate” scandal, which centres on dubious financial transactions between Netanyahu aides and Qatar.
On the other side stands Bar, appointed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in 2021. Bar represents Israel’s security elite, who understand the long-term security implications of Netanyahu’s political manoeuvres. ….more
