Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of posing a threat to national security by barring an investigation into 'Qatargate' via his dismissal in a letter sent to Israel's cabinet as it convened on Thursday night to vote on Bar's firing.
"Significant investigative actions are taking place these days, and obstructing them through a sudden and urgent dismissal, supported by unfounded justifications, is entirely tainted by extraneous considerations and the gravest personal and institutional conflicts of interest. It poses a direct threat to national security," the Shin Bet chief wrote.
Ronen Bar: Netanyahu harmed Gaza hostage negotiations
In his letter, Bar further accused Netanyahu of harming the negotiations to release the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza by removing himself and Mossad Director David Barnea from leading talks with mediators.
"The removal of the Mossad chief and my removal from leading the negotiations harmed the negotiation team and did not advance the release of the hostages."
The deal that was reached met the goals set by the prime minister, meaning that there was “no basis for the claim of alleged lack of trust, unless the real intention, which I apparently failed to understand, was to negotiate without reaching a deal,” Bar claimed.
Bar added that completing the Qatargate investigation "is a paramount public duty imposed upon me," while dubbing the decision to dismiss him "an irregular process with predetermined outcomes."