Netanyahu claims decision to fire security chief not connected to Qatar inquiry

Israeli PM says he sacked Ronen Bar over agency’s 7 October report, rather than investigation into his office’s ties to Qatar

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a Saturday speech that the decision to fire the country’s domestic security chief Ronen Bar was made before the announcement that Bar was investigating the prime ministry for alleged ties to the Qatari government.

Netanyahu said that he had decided to fire Bar, the director of Shin Bet, after the agency’s report on the 7 October 2023 attack, rather than after it opened its investigation.