Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu Over Pre-Oct. 7 Warnings

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar intends to file a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking to compel the disclosure of documents and testimonies related to intelligence provided to the prime minister before the October 7th Hamas attack. Bar's announcement follows sharp criticism from Netanyahu, who accused Bar of failing to update him on accumulating signs of danger on the night of the attack, suggesting Bar's knowledge was evident from the deployment of a special "Tequila" team.

Bar's lawsuit aims to shift the confrontation to the legal arena. He plans to demand access to Netanyahu's meeting logs with security and foreign officials prior to October 7th, and to summon Netanyahu's aides and staff. Bar alleges these individuals have aided Netanyahu in what he calls a "manipulative campaign" against the former Shin Bet head.

Bar's statement asserts that Netanyahu has launched an "unrestrained and baseless incitement campaign" against him, selectively releasing and misrepresenting documents. Bar claims Netanyahu is attempting to deflect responsibility for the failures leading up to the attack by blaming those, like himself, who warned him in real-time. Bar maintains he alerted Netanyahu to an "impending disaster" and recommended measures to restore deterrence and strengthen the border.

Bar stated he had initially preferred to await an official inquiry into the October 7th events but decided to pursue legal action due to recent accusations. "Lies, distortion of facts, manipulation of protocols, and spreading misleading information to the public, this is what the Prime Minister does when the scope of warnings he received before the October 7th massacre begins to become clear," the statement read.

Bar instructed his lawyers to file the suit and to subpoena individuals he claims "distorted, falsified documents, and spread false and defamatory information" about him. He also called on Netanyahu to release all relevant documents from the period preceding the attack. The escalating dispute intensified after Netanyahu denied a Wall Street Journal report that then-Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamal had warned him of an impending Hamas attack, with Netanyahu claiming no such meeting or warning occurred. Netanyahu then pointed blame at Bar, alleging the former Shin Bet chief spoke with military leaders on the night of October 7th but did not update the prime minister despite discussing concerning signs.