• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (AP)

Two days after announcing his decision to appoint Vice Adm. (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet—only to reverse course—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that the security agency’s deputy chief would serve as acting head instead of Ronen Bar.

The individual, identified only by the initial “Shin", will temporarily lead the Shin Bet until a permanent director is appointed, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The PMO emphasized that Bar, who was officially dismissed by the cabinet earlier this month, would vacate his position by April 10. However, he remains in office due to a temporary injunction from the High Court of Justice, which is reviewing legal challenges to his dismissal.

The PMO also noted that it was unable to submit a replacement candidate to the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee within the required timeframe. Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues to interview potential candidates, including those he had previously considered. Despite the court’s freeze on Bar’s removal, Netanyahu is still permitted to vet candidates for his replacement.

The Times of Israel cited sources as saying that Netanyahu is primarily considering individuals from within the Shin Bet or those with prior experience in the agency, but he has also been engaging with external candidates. Netanyahu has justified his decision to remove Bar by citing a loss of confidence following the Palestinian Resistance's attack on October 7, 2023.

Critics accuse Netanyahu of attempting to oust Bar due to an ongoing Shin Bet investigation into alleged ties between Netanyahu’s top aides and Qatar. Bar has reportedly insisted he will remain in his role until all remaining 59 captives in Gaza are released and a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack is established.

On Tuesday morning, Netanyahu reversed his decision to appoint Sharvit following significant domestic and international backlash. The PMO acknowledged Sharvit’s willingness to serve but stated that Netanyahu had reconsidered and would interview other candidates.

Netanyahu’s initial announcement of Sharvit’s appointment on Monday sparked widespread surprise and criticism, particularly due to Sharvit’s past participation in anti-government protests and the ongoing legal challenges surrounding Bar’s dismissal. Netanyahu had initially claimed he selected Sharvit after interviewing "seven worthy candidates."

By Monday afternoon, Netanyahu was facing intense pressure from political allies and even family members to withdraw Sharvit’s nomination, partly due to Sharvit’s involvement in 2023 protests against judicial reforms. Sharvit had also previously voiced support for a 2022 maritime border agreement with Lebanon, which Netanyahu had opposed.

Additionally, Sharvit had criticized US President Donald Trump’s climate policies, a stance that drew criticism from US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of "Israel". Graham labeled Sharvit’s appointment as "beyond problematic."

Sharvit’s selection was unexpected, as he was not among the four candidates previously announced.

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