Shin Bet Scandal Exposes Netanyahu’s Fragility: Who Really Rules Israel?

In under 24 hours, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated Eli Sharvit as the new head of Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet — only to suddenly withdraw the nomination.

This whiplash decision isn’t just political drama; it exposes Netanyahu’s mounting instability and the absence of strategic direction within Israel’s highest echelons of power.

According to an in-depth report by CounterPunch, the incident is a symptom of a deeper crisis, reflecting a pattern of chaotic decision-making and susceptibility to pressure — from extremist coalition partners, foreign governments, and even Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, according to Israeli media leaks.

Cracks in the Throne: A Leader Under Siege

Public trust in Netanyahu has plummeted. Recent polls show a growing Israeli majority calling for early elections or outright resignation, fuelled by:

• • His failure to prevent the October 7th Hamas attack, and

• • His inability to achieve clear objectives in a war that has escalated into a devastating campaign on Gaza.

But as CounterPunch notes, this isn’t just about military missteps. More and more Israelis now believe Netanyahu prioritises political survival over national interest, even if it means dragging Israel into an unending war and social fragmentation.

15,000 Children Killed — For What?

The report points out that Netanyahu’s push to prolong the war, which has killed over 15,000 children in Gaza and thousands more civilians, is not strategic — it’s political.

“The Gaza war has become Netanyahu’s last card to stay in power,” the article argues.

And the Shin Bet fiasco is just the latest evidence of a leadership crisis bordering on collapse.

Netanyahu’s War Within the State

The Shin Bet (founded by David Ben-Gurion in 1949) is a pillar of Israel’s security architecture — tasked with counterterrorism, espionage prevention, and protecting top officials.

But the shock dismissal of Ronen Bar (the Shin Bet director) on March 2 sent political shockwaves across Israel, surpassing even the firings of IDF Chief Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in intensity.

Traditionally, Shin Bet leadership remained above political games. But Netanyahu broke that unspoken rule — and in doing so, signalled that no institution is safe from political manipulation.

Former Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman reportedly threatened to expose classified information if the agency becomes a tool of Netanyahu’s war cabinet — a chilling indication of potential civil-military rupture.

The Collapse of a Myth: Netanyahu the ‘Strongman’

The abrupt cancellation of Eli Sharvit’s appointment only amplified the perception of a prime minister in disarray. Opposition leader Yair Lapid went as far as calling Netanyahu a “strategic threat to Israel itself.”

Some analysts believe Sharvit’s nomination was scrapped under pressure from Washington, especially after revelations that he had criticised former U.S. President Donald Trump in a past article. While this might seem like Netanyahu caving to American demands, it’s more likely a move to maintain Trump’s support ahead of 2024 — ensuring continued American backing for the war on Gaza.

But beneath these calculations lies a more disturbing truth:

Netanyahu’s decisions are not driven by national security — but by political self-preservation.

The Military Is Losing Patience

The article stresses the growing rift between Israel’s military establishment and Netanyahu’s far-right government, especially as:

• • Investigations into the October 7 attack intensify, and

• • The war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria stretches the IDF thin.

This military-civilian friction, long kept under wraps, is now erupting into public view — with the war being used as a tool to suppress dissent and ignore calls for diplomatic alternatives.

In fact, in April 2023, public outrage forced Netanyahu to reinstate Yoav Gallant after firing him, showing how powerful public pressure remains even in wartime.

War as a Political Agenda — Not a National Strategy

The CounterPunch report concludes that Netanyahu’s war doctrine is not grounded in strategic logic, but in his need to maintain his fragile coalition and avoid prosecution — or political death.

By weaponising war, Netanyahu has managed to pass legislation he failed to advance for years. But the Shin Bet debacle could be a turning point, highlighting the limits of that strategy.

What’s Next? An Implosion in Slow Motion

The question now is not if he will fall — but what kind of damage he’ll cause before he does.