Daijiworld Media Network- Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Apr 29: Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency, has announced his resignation, accepting responsibility for the agency’s failure to prevent the devastating Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Speaking during a solemn memorial service for Shin Bet’s fallen combatants on Sunday, Bar revealed that he would formally step down on June 15.

"After years on many fronts, in one night on the southern front, the sky fell. All systems collapsed. The Shin Bet also failed to provide an early warning," Bar said, referring to the brutal assault that claimed around 1,200 lives and saw 251 individuals kidnapped by Hamas militants.

"As the head of the organization, I took the responsibility," Bar stated, adding that his decision was aimed at ensuring a smooth transition and a professional handover to his successor.

Bar’s resignation follows mounting tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier sought to dismiss him in March, citing a loss of confidence. However, the move was challenged legally, with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and opposition leaders appealing to the Supreme Court, which subsequently froze Netanyahu’s dismissal order pending further review, according to Xinhua news agency.

The backdrop to this development is an intensifying blame game within Israel's leadership over the catastrophic intelligence and security failures that culminated in the October 7 attacks. Bar has previously advocated for the formation of a state commission to thoroughly investigate the sequence of events that led to the Hamas assault, including the government's role and response.

Adding to the political turmoil is the ongoing "Qatar-Gate" probe, involving alleged undisclosed contacts between close aides of Netanyahu and the Qatari government, further straining relations between key figures in the Israeli establishment.