Channel 14 Host Calls for Ex-Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar's Imprisonment

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whose term ended in June 2025, is facing renewed and harsh public and political criticism, primarily from government supporters and right-wing figures who hold him responsible for the October 7th failures. Channel 14 host Erel Segal launched an unprecedented attack on Bar during his radio show on 103FM, accusing him of criminal negligence and direct responsibility for the disaster.

"Ronen Bar acted with criminal negligence on October 7th, he should be in jail," Segal stated on air. "If I were the father of one of the Golani soldiers who died there, I would pursue him until my last day." Segal further alleged that Bar's actions that night amounted to abandoning civilians and soldiers, claiming that if Prime Minister Netanyahu had been alerted, the event would have unfolded differently. "Bar decided to handle it alone and abandoned the communities, the Nova party, and the Golani soldiers, abandoned them!" Segal vehemently declared.

This severe criticism follows recent revelations by Kan 11, which were unusually cleared for publication by censorship. The report detailed a secret direct communication channel between Israel and Hamas, through which Bar held several direct phone conversations with senior Hamas official Raazi Hamed. According to sources familiar with the matter, this channel was established to help resolve complex disputes during hostage release negotiations, with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya.

However, these sources emphasized that despite Bar's direct talks with Hamed, the channel did not ultimately lead to a hostage deal, with agreements being reached through the efforts of mediating countries.