New Shin Bet head: Ready to take on Iran, Israeli-Arab violence

• Author: YONAH JEREMY BOB
• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Bar replaced outgoing chief Nadav Argaman, who has directed the homeland security and intelligence agency since May 2016.

"The central threat to peace in the region, the Shiite crescent led by Iran, the engine of terror, spying and influence will continue to be at the heart of the [Israeli] intelligence community's focus, including the agency," said Bar.

He continued, "as a function of its role and responsibility, the agency will act to thwart this threat from any place where it is identified, within Israel, outside the country and in the cyber arena."

Regarding the wave of murders of Israeli-Arabs, he said, "after we review the issue, we will present a proper balance between our contribution to strengthen the police versus increasing the direct involvement of the agency. It is clear to us that this is a national mission," requiring all hands on deck.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who nominated Bar on September 1, said, "we must drive forward to the goal in which there is no room for doubt and in which we remove from the enemy any desire to challenge us" with terror or other security threats.

Bennett said he picked Bar because he could yell he would "always take the initiative and...