Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a 14-minute meeting on Sunday with Israel Security Agency (ISA-Shin Bet) Director Ronen Bar during which he notified him that he informed him that he will bring a draft decision to the government this week to conclude his service.
This comes amid a long period during which there has been a lack of trust between the two.
According to the reports, Netanyahu even indicated who would replace Bar - his deputy M. who Nenayhu added to the new negotiation team for the second phase of the hostage deal and has played a significant role in the team since then. The team is led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer who is very close to the Prime Minister.
Netanyahu stated on Sunday: "We are in the midst of a war for our very survival – a war on seven fronts. At any time, but especially during such an existential war, the Prime Minister must have complete confidence in the Director of the ISA.
"Unfortunately, however, the situation is the opposite: I do not have that confidence. I have a continuing lack of confidence in the Director of the ISA. Distrust that only grew with time. Due to this continuing lack of confidence, I have decided to submit a draft decision to the Government this week on concluding the service of the Director of the ISA. I wish to clarify: I have nothing but appreciation for the men and women of the ISA. They are doing important and dedicated work for the security of us all. As Prime Minister, who is responsible for the ISA, I am convinced that this step is crucial in order to restore the organization, to achieve all of our war objectives, and to prevent the next tragedy."
Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir commended Netanyahu's announcement and stated: "This is something I have been demanding for a long time, and better late than never. There is no place in a democratic state for bureaucrats who conduct a political counter-offensive against elected officials.
"The Right must learn from President Trump to eradicate the deep state, to conduct itself as a democracy, and to restore the public's trust in the security and judicial bodies of the State of Israel."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented: "Better late than never. The replacement of the head of the ISA is a necessary and inevitable step. It would have been better had he taken genuine responsibility and resigned voluntarily more than a year ago, and spared the need for his dismissal. After such a major failure, responsibility demands that he vacate his position long ago. His clinging to the chair and the arguments advanced in public and in briefings are insolence, arrogance, and the very antithesis of democracy.
"Moreover, in recent months he has had fundamental differences with politicians, differences that will come to light in due course, another reason why he cannot remain in his post. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the head of the ISA has many achievements, and alongside the criticism the people of Israel are grateful to him for decades of dedicated service for the security of the state."
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan criticized the move: "The dismissal of the head of the ISA is a desperate attempt by a criminal defendant to be rid of one who is loyal to Israel and who is investigating Netanyahu and his close associates for serious and dark crimes and who is not willing to whitewash them."
"The more the investigations around him proliferate and reveal problematic connections, the more Netanyahu goes into a frenzy, lashes out, fires, threatens, and tries to destroy the gatekeepers."
"The dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet will not pass as if nothing had happened. There will be massive opposition, we will fight with all our might and we will not allow Netanyahu to turn Israel into a dictatorship of a corrupt man."
The Movement for Quality Government stated that "The dismissal of the head of the ISA is a declaration of war on the rule of law."