Ronen Bar | |
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רונן בר | |
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Nationality | Israeli |
Occupation | Intelligence official |
Espionage activity | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service branch | Shabak |
Service years | 1993–present |
Rank | Director |
Ronen Bar (Hebrew: רונן בר; born December 25th, 1965)[1] is an Israeli intelligence officer and the director of the Israeli Security Agency (commonly referred to as Shin Bet, Shabak, or ISA) since 13 October 2021. He previously served as deputy head of Shin Bet. Bar was appointed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his nomination was approved by Israel's cabinet on 11 October 2021.[2] He assumed office on 13 October 2021.[3]
Biography
[edit]Bar served in the Israel Defense Forces’ Sayeret Matkal unit.[4] He joined Shin Bet as a field agent in 1993,[2] and in 2011 was named head of Shin Bet's Operations Division.[4] Bar became head of the resource development department in 2016, and became Shin Bet deputy chief in 2018.[4]
Bar is expected to serve as director until 2026.[3]
Role in and after Hamas attack on Israel
[edit]In an all-staff memo made public on Monday, 16 October 2023, Bar took responsibility for failing to thwart the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas. "The responsibility is mine. Despite a series of actions we carried out, unfortunately, on Saturday we were unable to establish sufficient deterrence so as to thwart the attack," he wrote. "There will be time for investigations. Now we are fighting."[5]
In a recording revealed on 3 December 2023, Bar was heard to say that after the 7 October Hamas attack, Israel would kill Hamas's leaders "in every location," even if it takes years. "We are determined to do it, this is our Munich," referring to Israeli efforts to retaliate against terrorists responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics attack that killed 11 Israelis.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Bar's wife, Dafna, is a sister of entrepreneur Shai Agassi.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Wrobel, Sharon (11 October 2021). "'The Right Man in The Right Place': Israel Appoints Ronen Bar as New Head of Shin Bet Security Service". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b Wrobel, Sharon (11 October 2021). "'The Right Man in The Right Place': Israel Appoints Ronen Bar as New Head of Shin Bet Security Service". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (13 October 2021). "New Shin Bet chief: Agency won't stand idly by as crime rises in Arab community". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b c "Cabinet approves nomination of Ronen Bar as next Shin Bet chief". The Times of Israel. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Rubin, Shira (16 October 2023). "How Hamas's carefully planned Israel attack devolved into a chaotic rampage". Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "In recording, Shin Bet chief vows to kill Hamas chiefs 'in Lebanon, Turkey, Qatar'". Times of Israel. Jerusalem, Israel. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ אייכנר, איתמר; זיתון, יואב; רובינשטיין, רועי (2021-10-11). "כבר לא ר': אושר מינויו של רונן בר לראש השב"כ". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
External links
[edit] Media related to Ronen Bar at Wikimedia Commons