Ronen Bar, the head of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet (IO, 15/08/22), gave a rare speech on 12 September before the annual world summit on counter-terrorism at Reichman University (previously IDC Herzliya). While fellow speaker David Barnea, head of the Mossad (IO, 20/07/22), unsurprisingly talked of the persistent threat of Iran's nuclear programme, the leader of the "Shabak" spoke of internal and existential challenges. He pointed the finger at the polarisation of Israeli politics
Spymaster | Israel
Shin Bet boss Ronen Bar battles internal headwinds and Palestinian strife
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The man running Israel's internal security service since 2021 is no longer holding back on the threats hanging over the Israeli state, not the least the dangers presented by the Jewish settlements. At the same time, he has responded to the emergence of new armed groups in the West Bank by focusing efforts on the territory, even at the risk of falling out with Ramallah and Cairo.
