Netanyahu withdraws Shin Bet appointment after U.S. criticism and domestic protests

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, April 2, reversed his earlier decision to appoint former Navy commander Eli Sharvit as the new director of Shin Bet, the country’s internal security agency, according to Le Figaro.

The move came after sharp criticism from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Donald Trump, who called Sharvit’s nomination “problematic” and urged Israel to “reconsider” its decision.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu thanked Sharvit for his willingness to serve but decided to explore other candidates.

Earlier, the Israeli Supreme Court had temporarily blocked the dismissal of current Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, while nationwide protests intensified against what critics call the government’s authoritarian drift.

On March 31, it was reported that Netanyahu appointed Sharvit despite the court’s suspension of Bar’s dismissal.

Bar had criticized the government for failing to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack, which led to a loss of trust from the Prime Minister.

The appointment sparked public backlash and fears of a constitutional crisis. The Attorney General declared the nomination unlawful and suggested Netanyahu had a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s freeze on Bar’s dismissal remains in effect until April 8, and a final ruling has not yet been made.