As the dust settles following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to move forward with the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, attention has turned to his potential replacement. A senior Shin Bet official known only as M, the current deputy, has emerged as a leading candidate after Netanyahu appointed him to the hostage negotiation team, effectively sidelining Bar.
"Due to ongoing lack of trust, I have decided to bring a resolution to the government to end the Shin Bet chief's term," Netanyahu stated when announcing Bar's dismissal.
While M appears to have earned the prime minister's trust, his candidacy comes with significant baggage. As deputy director of the agency during the October 7 Hamas terrorist atrocities, M bears partial responsibility for what has widely been considered Israel's worst intelligence failure in decades.
M's background reflects a lifetime of security service. Born into a religious kibbutz bereaved family, he began his Shin Bet career in 1994 as a security guard. He quickly advanced, serving as a field coordinator in the Hebron region during the early stages of the Second Intifada (the Palestinian campaign of terrorism in the early 2000s). His career progression included various operational roles throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem, ultimately reaching the position of regional director – a rank equivalent to major general in the military. His leadership experience extends to heading a division within the Shin Bet's Operations Department.
When the current war began, both Bar and Netanyahu requested that M extend his service until early 2025. Although his official term had already concluded and retirement proceedings had begun, M was specifically asked to join the hostage negotiation team – a move that signaled his continued value to the administration despite the October 7 failures.
