Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday morning that he was backtracking on his decision to appoint Vice Adm. (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet, just 24 hours after it was announced.
Netanyahu’s office said that the prime minister met Sharvit on Monday evening to tell him that he would not be the next head of the security service, following a whirlwind day of criticism of the nomination both in Zionist entity and abroad.
“The prime minister thanked Vice Adm. Sharvit for his willingness to serve,” Netanyahu’s Office said in a statement, “but informed him that after further thought, he intends to interview other candidates.”
Israeli media described the move by Netanyahu as a U-turn, noting that Netanyahu faced pressure throughout Monday from political allies to scratch Sharvit’s nomination, due to his participation in massive protests in 2023 against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.
By early Monday afternoon, reports were already swirling that he was likely to undo the selection.
Netanyahu announced Sharvit on Monday morning as his choice to replace Ronen Bar at the head of the agency, in a move that raised eyebrows both given Sharvit’s reported participation in anti-government protests and ongoing questions — including High Court petitions — surrounding Bar’s dismissal during a criminal probe into associates of the prime minister.
In the initial announcement Monday, Netanyahu said he had made the decision to tap Sharvit, a former Navy chief, after interviewing “seven worthy candidates.”
Source: Israeli media
