Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens Israel’s democracy and endangers its security, warned former Shin Bet Director Ami Ayalon, who said that the current government is pushing Israel to become an autocracy. 

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ayalon accused Netanyahu of trying to fire current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar purely for political reasons, stating that ‘’persecuting the gatekeepers of democracy damages the country’s democratic regime and its institutions, leading Israel to a dictatorship.’’

Retired Adm. Ayalon served many years in the Israeli military before his appointment as head of Shin Bet. In 1979, he was appointed commander of the navy commando, and in 1992, he was nominated as commander of the navy. During his military service, he was bestowed with the Medal of Valor, Israel's highest award for bravery. Retiring from military service in 1996, he was chosen to lead the Shin Bet, a position he held for four and a half years. 

After his Shin Bet service, Ayalon became a leading peace activist. In 2003, he launched together with Palestinian Professor Sari Nusseibeh a peace initiative called ‘’the people’s voice,’’ collecting signatures on both sides in favor of the two-state solution. He served as a Knesset member on behalf of the Labor Party between 2006 and 2008. During that period, he also served as a member of the parliamentarian security committee and minister without portfolio.