Just a day later, and as expected, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Maj. Gen. (res.) Eli Sharvit that his nomination to head the Shin Bet was being reconsidered. Netanyahu met again with Sharvit on Monday evening and told him that "after further consideration, he intends to explore other candidates," according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. "The prime minister thanked Maj. Gen. Sharvit for his willingness to step up," the statement read.
In response, Sharvit said: "The prime minister asked me to take on the role of head of the Shin Bet and to continue serving the State of Israel at this difficult time — and so I did. I did so out of full confidence in the Shin Bet's ability to meet the complex challenges it faces these days, and with humble faith in my own ability to lead it through. The welfare of the country, its security, and the safety of its citizens will always come first and guide me."
Netanyahu had introduced Sharvit, who served as commander of the Israeli Navy from 2016 to 2021, as his pick for the next Shin Bet chief only yesterday (Monday), but was forced to make a swift about-face following backlash from within the Likud party. Sharvit previously served as the Navy's chief of staff from 2014 to 2016. In March 2024, he testified before the state commission of inquiry into the submarine affair, which is investigating alleged bid rigging related to the procurement of submarines and Sa'ar-class missile ships.
Sharvit's disqualification and the move to consider alternative candidates followed an uproar within Likud and coalition parties after it emerged that Sharvit had taken part in protests against the judicial overhaul - a fact that was widely known. Sources close to Netanyahu said this detail had been presented to the prime minister, but he had not considered it significant.
