Tel Aviv: The head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday his decision to step down on June 15, following a dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. This decision comes after the government had initially decided to dismiss him, a move that was subsequently frozen by the Supreme Court.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ronen Bar, who has served for 35 years, disclosed his resignation during a memorial ceremony for fallen Shin Bet personnel. He stated his intention to allow for an orderly transition and appointment of a permanent replacement, indicating he would end his role on June 15, 2025.

The controversy surrounding Bar's departure intensified on Sunday when Prime Minister Netanyahu accused him of an intelligence failure in relation to the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian resistance group Hamas, as reported by public broadcaster KAN.

In response to Bar's testimony regarding the government's dismissal decision, Netanyahu submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court. He refuted Bar's claims of having warned about an impending war, labeling Bar's handling of the October 2023 events as a significant intelligence failure in Israel's history.