Bezalel Smotrich Bar's removal: "Better late than never"; Yair Golan: "Netanyahu declared war on Israel"

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the news today (Sunday) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to fire Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar by saying "better late than never."

In his statement, Smotrich said that:

Better late than never.

The replacement of the head of the Shin Bet is a necessary and appropriate step. It would have been proper for the head of the Shin Bet to take real responsibility and resign on his own initiative more than a year ago, saving the need for his dismissal.

After such a fundamental failure as what occurred on Simchat Torah, responsibility requires vacating the position long ago. His clinging to his seat and the justifications given for it publicly and in briefings are impudence, arrogance, and the most undemocratic thing possible.

Moreover, in recent months, fundamental disagreements have developed between him and the political echelon that will be addressed in due time, another reason why he cannot remain in his position. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the head of the Shin Bet has many merits, and alongside the criticism, the people of Israel thank him for decades of dedicated service for the security of the state.

Meanwhile, many in the opposition are lamenting the decision and even calling it a threat to democracy. For instance, Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, said that:

Netanyahu declared war on the State of Israel. The dismissal of the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency) chief is a desperate attempt by a criminal defendant to get rid of someone who is loyal to Israel and who is investigating Netanyahu and his inner circle for serious and dark offenses and is unwilling to cover them up.

As the investigations around him branch out and expose problematic connections, Netanyahu becomes hysterical, incites, fires, threatens, and tries to eliminate the gatekeepers. The dismissal of the Shin Bet chief will not pass as if nothing happened.

There will be massive resistance, we will fight forcefully and not allow Netanyahu to turn the State of Israel into a dictatorship of a corrupt and contemptible man.