The deputy director of the Israeli Security Agency, Ronen Bar, was confirmed as the next chief of the organization at Monday's cabinet meeting.
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The 55-year-old Bar's nomination got the necessary clearance from the special vetting panel overseeing such appointments last week, resulting in the unanimous confirmation vote early Monday morning.
Bar will start his new job at the helm of the organization, known as the Shin Bet security agency, on Wednesday, replacing incumbent Nadav Argaman, who has been the director since 2016. The agency is tasked with counterterrorism, VIP protection and other internal matters.
Speaking with Israel Hayom shortly after the vote, Bar said: "I thank the prime minister for the trust he has placed in me and the backing, and I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to start working with the great employees there."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued his own statement, calling Bar a "courageous fighter and a daring commander who has for his entire life been in the pursuit of the ultimate goal: bolstering Israel's security. "
Bar, who is married and a father of three, speaks Arabic fluently. He has a Bachelor's degree from Tel Aviv University in political science and philosophy and a Master's from Harvard University in Public Administration. He served in the IDF's elite commando unit Sayeret Matkal and later joined the Shin Bet as a fighter in its Operations Unit. In 2018, he was promoted to deputy director.
He won many citations for the many activities that he commanded. During his confirmation process, the vetting panel also received an anonymous letter claiming misconduct on his behalf. But the panel eventually rejected the claims and said that he had successfully rebuffed the allegations.
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