Netanyahu Strikes Back at Ex-Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar over Oct. 7 Contact Claims in Lawsuit
- On Wednesday, former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar filed a libel suit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Central-Lod District Court, disputing accusations that Bar concealed intelligence before the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre.
- Netanyahu's September 28 X post accused Bar of "failures and crimes," which Bar alleges is part of a coordinated campaign to shift responsibility for the massacre away from the prime minister and onto security agencies.
- The filing claims Netanyahu blocked offensive operations against Hamas and pursued "quiet at any price," including rejecting Bar's November 2022 recommendation to kill Yahya Sinwar, while Bar warned repeatedly of a "perfect storm" throughout 2023.
- Netanyahu countered on Wednesday, claiming Bar failed to call him on the night of October 7, while Bar asserts he followed standard procedures by notifying military secretary Avi Gil during the crisis.
- Seeking document disclosure, Bar continues to demand an independent state commission of inquiry and links the campaign against him to his opposition to using the Shin Bet as a "secret police" force against political protesters.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Two weeks before the legislature, Ronen Bar, who led the Shin Bet in 2023, filed a complaint for defamation against the Prime Minister, who had widely emphasized the responsibility of the security services.
Before the elections in Israel, there are reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu ignored warnings about the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu himself blames an ex-secretary chief, who now defends himself in court, revealing explosive details.
A case filed by Ronin Bar v. Netanyahu includes a series of security warnings prior to the 7 October attack, amid an exchange of accusations about intelligence failures, demands for the disclosure of documents and the establishment of a formal commission of inquiry.
Ronen Bar, who was head of the Shin Bet when Hamas attacked, claims that the Israeli prime minister made "accusations that he knew were false, aimed at diverting the discussion from his own responsibility for the events of October 7."
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
