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

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied reports of meeting or speaking with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in the months leading up to the October 7th Hamas attack. In a post on social media platform X, Netanyahu stated he had no contact with Kamel and that Israeli intelligence officials did not relay any warnings from the Egyptian official to him. He further asserted that he never meets foreign intelligence chiefs without an Israeli intelligence officer present.

These statements come amid reports, citing an Egyptian source published by The Atlantic, that Kamel had warned Israeli counterparts of an impending escalation in Gaza. However, the reported message lacked specific details about the nature of the threat, the exact timing, or the precise date of the planned attack. It remains unclear with whom Kamel met during his brief visit to Israel, and the reports did not mention a meeting with Netanyahu.

Netanyahu announced his intention to file a defamation lawsuit over these claims. 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, while shifting blame to Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. The Prime Minister alleged that Bar, despite being aware of intelligence indicating an imminent attack, chose not to inform Netanyahu or take measures to protect civilians, such as evacuating the Nova festival attendees.

Netanyahu characterized the reports of warnings from various sources as "false blood libels" orchestrated by "foreign and hostile states and forces, including Arab countries." He claimed these entities aim to overthrow his right-wing government and replace it with a left-wing and Arab coalition that would withdraw from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, ultimately leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.