ALBAWABA - Concerns about a possible threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's safety have been raised by a former senior official in Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet (Shabak). The official warned that internal tensions within the agency could result in an extreme act, including the possibility of assassination.
In a televised interview, Amit Asa, a well-known member of Israel's security sector, made the incendiary comments, implying that the Prime Minister is in a hazardous environment due to the consequences from the firing of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.
Asa said, "As a theoretical scenario, we should be concerned," emphasizing that Bar is still in charge of a strong, armed group that works closely with Netanyahu. He underlined that while neither the agency as a whole nor its personal security branch poses a danger, the present instability may persuade someone to take separate action.
"In such a volatile environment, it’s entirely possible that someone on a personal level could feel compelled to take extreme measures," he said. Asa went on to say that the true threat is the potential for a change in agency loyalties, where an agent would follow Ronen Bar's instructions instead of the Prime Minister's. "This must be taken seriously, and particular attention should be given to those closest to Netanyahu."
Alongside broader criticism of Netanyahu's handling of national security and his efforts to remove top officials after internal investigations into security failures, particularly those related to the October 7 events, the comments follow a public dispute between Netanyahu and the now-dismissed Shin Bet director Ronen Bar.
