Netanyahu cancels new Shin Bet chief pick after US Senator Lindsey Graham calls it ‘beyond problematic’

After stunning Israel’s political system with a surprise choice for the next director of the Shin Bet on Monday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed his selection of former IDF Navy commander Eli Sharvit 24 hours later.

Following another meeting on Monday, the Prime Minister "thanked Vice-Admiral Sharvit for his willingness to answer the call, but informed him that after further consideration, he intends to examine other candidates," according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The statement also cited Sharvit as saying: "I was asked by the Prime Minister to take on the role of Head of the Shin Bet and continue to serve the State of Israel in this difficult time – and that is what I did. This decision comes from full trust in the ability of the Shin Bet to meet the complex challenges it is facing these days, and from humble faith in my abilities to lead it through this. The service of the state's best interests, its security, and the safety of its citizens will always come first and foremost in my mind."

Netanyahu’s pick of Sharvit, who had no prior intelligence background, to succeed Ronen Bar as the director of Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, came as a surprise.

Also surprising were the reactions, as most opposition leaders expressed cautious acceptance of Sharvit, while the nominee drew flak from Netanyahu’s allies.

Possibly the most impactful critic was U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is seen as a close ally of President Donald Trump and a long-time supporter of Netanyahu.

“While it is undeniably true that America has no better friend than Israel, the appointment of Eli Sharvit to be the new leader of the Shin Bet is beyond problematic,” Graham wrote on X in response to the report.

“There has never been a better supporter for the State of Israel than President Trump. The statements made by Eli Sharvit about President Trump and his policies will create unnecessary stress at a critical time. My advice to my Israeli friends is [to] change course and do better vetting,” he added.

The criticism referred to an op-ed written by Sharvit while serving as CEO of Elgry Eco Energy several months ago, in which he wrote, “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.”

However, Channel 12 News claimed that Graham’s post was, in fact, motivated by a desire to help Netanyahu, by giving him an excuse to reverse his choice due to criticism from his own ranks.

Several reports on Monday had pointed out that Sharvit had taken part in the anti-judicial reform protests against the government before the war in 2023.

Other coalition members were reportedly outraged at the choice of Sharvit because he had supported Israel's gas agreement with Lebanon and Hezbollah during the Lapid government, which Netanyahu had sharply criticized.

“Replacing a person with a Kaplanist worldview with another person with a similar worldview does not solve the problem, but only perpetuates it in a different framework,” wrote Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Jewish Power), referring to Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, one of the main centers of anti-government protests.

“If we want to strengthen the democratic system, we must ensure that those at the head of strategic organizations like the Shin Bet are committed to a concept that respects the will of the people as expressed in democratic election processes,” Eliyahu wrote on 𝕏.

Firebrand Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv agreed that Sharvit is “not suitable to head the Shin Bet.”

She argued that there are right-wing figures who “are very worthy and highly qualified” and “are very suitable for the position of head of the Shin Bet.”

“If he protests, he will not be the head of the Shin Bet. Let him continue to protest,” Likud MK Nissim Vaturi told the Knesset Channel.