Netanyahu Denies Meeting Egyptian Spy Chief, Blames Shin Bet Head for Failures

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly denied meeting or speaking with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in the months leading up to the October 7th Hamas attack. This statement, made on social media platform X, comes amid reports of a secret flight by Netanyahu to the UAE and follows earlier publications about Kamel's unexpected visit to Israel in late September 2023. Netanyahu asserted that Israeli intelligence officials did not relay any warnings from Kamel to him, and stated that he never meets foreign intelligence chiefs without an Israeli intelligence officer present. The reports, citing an Egyptian source via The Atlantic, claimed Kamel had warned Israeli counterparts that Gaza was "about to explode" but provided no specific details on the nature or timing of the threat. It remains unclear with whom Kamel met during his hour-long visit to Israel.

Netanyahu further announced his intention to file a defamation lawsuit over these allegations. He also launched a strong attack on "left-wing media," accusing them of a "vile and false campaign" to attribute the failures preceding October 7th to him, rather than to Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. The Prime Minister claimed that on the night of October 7th, Bar had numerous conversations with then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and head of military intelligence Aharon Haliva about signs of an impending attack.

According to Netanyahu, Bar chose not to inform the Prime Minister, warn local defense forces, or evacuate the Nova festival attendees, instead dispatching only a small unit, which Netanyahu suggested proved Bar was aware of the "real danger." Netanyahu dismissed reports of warnings from various sources as "lying blood libels," alleging that foreign and hostile states, including Arab nations, are behind them. He suggested these efforts aim to overthrow his right-wing government in favor of a left-wing coalition that would withdraw from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, and establish a Palestinian state.