Former special forces soldier made enemies after disagreements with far-right factions in Netanyahu’s government

• Israeli government approves firing of Shin Bet chief

Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s powerful internal security service, the Shin Bet, may seem an unlikely rebel.

A former special forces soldier who holds degrees from Tel Aviv and Harvard universities, Bar has devoted three decades of his working life to the service of the state. His frame is lean, greying hair close shaved, features gaunt, manner reserved and speech moderate.