Ronen Bar

Ronen Bar (born 1965) is a former Israeli intelligence officer who served as director of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency responsible for counterterrorism and internal security, from 13 October 2021 to 15 June 2025. A veteran of over three decades in the agency, Bar began his career as a field operative in special operations, including counterterrorism activities in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, before ascending to leadership roles focused on thwarting terror threats and espionage. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Tel Aviv University and a master's in public administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School.

Ronen Bar was born in Rehovot under the name Ronen Beresovsky. Bar joined the IDF in 1984 and served as a soldier and officer in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit. After finishing his military service in 1988, Bar opened a cafe in Tel Aviv called "Bagdad Cafe". He joined Shin Bet as a field agent in 1993, and in 2011 was named head of Shin Bet's Operations Division. Bar became head of the resource development department in 2016, and became Shin Bet deputy chief in 2018. He was nominated as the head of the Shin Bet on 11 October 2021 and assumed office two days later.

Appointed by then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett amid heightened security challenges following the 2021 political shifts, Bar's tenure emphasized proactive intelligence operations against Palestinian militants and Iranian agents, contributing to the prevention of numerous attacks. However, his leadership became embroiled in significant controversies, including public clashes with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration over alleged demands for illegal surveillance and interference in judicial investigations related to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. These tensions culminated in Netanyahu's announcement to dismiss Bar in March 2025, prompting Bar to resign and step down ahead of schedule in June, marking a rare ousting of a Shin Bet chief and highlighting rifts between Israel's security establishment and its political leadership.