Ex-Shin Bet Chief to Sue Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Blame

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced Monday he intends to file a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, escalating their public dispute over responsibility for the October 7th Hamas attacks. Bar's office issued a sharp statement accusing Netanyahu of waging a "reckless and baseless incitement campaign" against him.

Bar's legal action comes after Netanyahu claimed Bar failed to warn him about intelligence indicating an impending attack on the night of October 7th. Bar's statement countered that he had repeatedly warned Netanyahu of an impending disaster during his tenure, but the Prime Minister ignored these warnings and recommendations to bolster deterrence and border security.

As part of the lawsuit, Bar seeks the disclosure of documents, including Netanyahu's meeting logs with security officials and foreign dignitaries. He also intends to summon Netanyahu's aides and staff as witnesses, alleging they are assisting in the campaign against him. "Lies, distortion of facts, manipulation of protocols, and spreading misleading information to the public, this is what the Prime Minister does as the scope of the warnings he received before the October 7th massacre begins to become clear," Bar's statement read.

Netanyahu had previously accused Bar of holding conversations with then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and former head of Military Intelligence Aharon Haliva on the eve of the attack but failing to update him. Netanyahu also claimed Bar did not alert emergency response teams or ground forces, nor did he act to evacuate the Nova music festival, instead dispatching only a small counter-terrorism team. Netanyahu alleged Bar was attempting to shift blame for security failures onto him.

Bar stated he had initially waited for a state inquiry commission to be formed but decided to take legal action due to the accusations. He called on Netanyahu to immediately release all documents to reveal the full truth to the public, emphasizing the lawsuit aims to protect the memory of the victims and the dignity of Shin Bet personnel. Bar concluded by urging Netanyahu to "achieve victory through a preemptive strike against the enemy outside, not against the security forces at home."