Netanyahu's surprise choice for new Shin Bet head: Former IDF Navy Commander Eli Sharvit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made headlines on Monday morning by naming former navy commander Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

The appointment was announced in a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) despite the High Court's ongoing temporary injunction against the dismissal of the current Shin Bet director, Ronen Bar. 

“After conducting in-depth interviews with seven worthy candidates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to appoint former Israel Navy Commander, Vice-Admiral Eli Sharvit, as the next Director of the ISA,” read the PMO statement.

“Vice-Admiral Sharvit has served in the IDF for 36 years, including five years as Commander of the Israel Navy. In that position, he led the force building of the maritime defense of the territorial waters and conducted complex operations against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.” 

In a further sting to Bar, the PMO stated, “The ISA is a meritorious agency that underwent a severe upheaval on October 7,” before continuing, “Prime Minister Netanyahu is convinced that Vice-Admiral Sharvit is the appropriate person to lead the ISA in such a way that will continue its glorious tradition.” 

Ronen Bar technically remains the head of the security agency until the temporary injunction is lifted, with the high court scheduled to hold a hearing on the petition to prevent Bar’s dismissal on April 8. 

However, the court ruled against instructions from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who prohibited the government from interviewing new candidates, thereby allowing Netanyahu to move forward and announce Sharvit's upcoming appointment.

The Israeli cabinet voted to fire Bar earlier in March, following repeated friction between him and Netanyahu. The prime minister had also said he lost faith in Bar following the Hamas invasion and massacres on Oct. 7, 2023.

Additionally, Netanyahu has implicated Bar in the leaks of details related to the hostage-ceasefire negotiations over the past year.

Attorney General Baharav-Miara, whom the coalition government is also working to dismiss, had warned Netanyahu against firing Bar while his office is under Shin Bet investigation for the leaked documents case and the Qatargate scandal, citing a potential conflict of interest. 

Bar resisted the government’s dismissal, stating that he would remain in office until the hostages were returned and a state commission of inquiry into the events of Oct. 7 was established. 

Netanyahu and the coalition leaders have strongly resisted calls for a state-level inquiry despite popular support for such an investigation. 

Netanyahu’s new pick for Shin Bet head came as a surprise to many in Israel, with some analysts decrying Sharvit’s lack of experience in intelligence and his limited knowledge of Arabic. 

While Sharvit would not be the first Shin Bet director without such a background, he would be the first since Ami Ayalon, another former navy commander, who was appointed following the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. 

Sharvit joined the Israel Navy after enlisting in 1985, joining the missile boat fleet. After completing officer training, he chose a career path in the Navy, serving in both operational and staff roles. 

During the Second Lebanon War in 2006, he served as deputy commander of the missile boat flotilla (3rd Fleet), later becoming its commander. 

The following year, Sharvit served as a department head in the IDF Operations Directorate – the only non-naval role he has held. In 2011, Sharvit returned to command the entire missile boat fleet, and in 2014, he served as commander of the Haifa naval base. 

Later, Sharvit served as chief of staff for the Israel Navy, and after being promoted to vice admiral, was appointed its commander – a role he held until his retirement in 2021.

Following his retirement, Sharvit worked briefly for Israel's top defense firm, Rafael Advanced Systems, before leaving to work on a renewable energy venture in the private sector. 

While serving as CEO of Elgry Eco Energy, Sharvit wrote an op-ed blasting U.S. President Donald Trump's climate policies.

“Trump’s shortsightedness sends a shocking message to the world of disregard for scientific reality, the well-being of humanity, and responsibility to future generations,” Sharvit wrote.

Sharvit defended Netanyahu in the so-called "Submarine Affair," rejecting allegations that a contract to build several submarines was manipulated to ensure that the German firm ThyssenKrupp would be the successful bidder.

Sharvit also participated in protests against the judicial reform overhaul in 2023, however, he did not support calls for reservists' refusal to serve. 

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, a Knesset member for the opposition, congratulated Sharvit on the appointment.

“Eli is a leader and commander with a professional and moral backbone who excelled in all his positions in the IDF. From many years of acquaintance, I am convinced that he will promote the organization according to its mission and be loyal to the State of Israel.” 

Eisenkot’s partner in the National Unity party, Benny Gantz, gave a cautious note of congratulations.

“Eli Sharvit is an excellent man and commander, with values and experience. An independent person who has always been led by the good of Israel's security, and I have no doubt that this will be the case in the future as well,” said Gantz.

However, he added, “What is clear is that the prime minister decided this morning to continue his campaign against the judicial system and lead the State of Israel toward a dangerous constitutional crisis. The appointment of the head of the Shin Bet must be made only after the Supreme Court's decision.” 

The head of the far-left "The Democrats" party and another former IDF general, Yair Golan, were even more reserved.

He called Sharvit “a worthy and decent man,” before stating, "The public expects him to be fully independent, to continue the investigation of the Qatari money, including the investigation of the prime minister's own involvement, and to stand firmly on the side of democracy, the law and the truth. It's a difficult task, almost impossible, but it's his duty. He will have to prove that his loyalty is given only to the law and the state, and not to the person who appointed him.” 

After backlash from members of his party, because he appeared to support Netanyahu's appointment, Golan later withdrew his statement.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, posted a note to X, saying that Sharvit should accept the nomination, but only after the Qatargate investigation has concluded.

"Before replacing the head of the Shin Bet - the Shin Bet needs to finish investigating the bureau's personnel, and also investigate Netanyahu," Lapid wrote.

"The discussion is not about Major General Sharvit. It is about the hasty, panicked, and irresponsible process in which the selection process for the next head of the Shin Bet was conducted. A process designed for only one thing: to stop the "Qatar Gate" investigation, before Netanyahu is summoned for questioning as the prosecutor ordered a short time ago."

"Major General Sharvit should announce today that he is accepting the position – but he will not take office until the 'Qatar Gate' investigation is completed, and he should certainly announce that he will not take office as long as the court order blocking the appointment is in effect," Lapid concluded.

Several anonymous security sources told Hebrew news media that Netanyahu’s choice caught them off guard. They said they expected the prime minister to bring in a senior official familiar with Shin Bet operations, the intelligence world, and the senior figures within the organization. 

Vice-Admiral Eli Sharvit’s appointment as director of Israel's domestic security agency is expected to be approved following the end of the temporary injunction on Bar's dismissal.