Shin Bet Chief to Sue Netanyahu Over Hamas Attack Warnings

Ronen Bar, the outgoing head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, announced Monday he will file a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bar is also demanding access to documents and meeting logs related to information provided to Netanyahu before the October 7th Hamas attacks, as well as Netanyahu's schedule with security officials and foreign dignitaries.

Bar's decision comes in response to Netanyahu's accusations that Bar committed "crimes" and "knew of a real danger" on the morning of October 7th but failed to act. Bar stated that if the lawsuit proceeds, he will subpoena Netanyahu's aides and staff who he claims are assisting in a "manipulative campaign" against him.

Bar's office released a statement accusing Netanyahu of launching a "wild and baseless incitement campaign" against the former Shin Bet chief. The statement asserts that for three years, Netanyahu refused to acknowledge responsibility and blocked a state inquiry, instead selectively releasing documents out of context. Now, as evidence emerges of warnings Netanyahu received before the massacre, Bar claims the Prime Minister is attempting to deflect blame by accusing those who warned him in real-time.

According to Bar's office, he had "unprecedentedly" warned the Prime Minister of an impending disaster, which Netanyahu ignored, along with recommendations to restore deterrence and strengthen the border. Bar stated that he had initially waited for a state commission of inquiry but could no longer tolerate the "stream of lies." The lawsuit, he explained, aims to reveal the truth without manipulation, protect the memory of the fallen, honor Shin Bet personnel, and counter Netanyahu's alleged distortion of facts.

Netanyahu had previously responded to reports about warnings from Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamal, claiming that the "left-wing media" was running a "vile and false campaign" to blame him for Bar's alleged failures. Netanyahu asserted that on the night of October 7th, Bar spoke with the IDF Chief of Staff and head of military intelligence but chose not to update the Prime Minister, alert emergency forces, or evacuate the Nova music festival, instead sending only a small "Tequila" team, which Netanyahu claims proves Bar knew of the real danger. Netanyahu also suggested foreign and Arab states were involved in these "false blood libels" to overthrow his government.

Bar's prior statements in a High Court petition regarding his potential dismissal addressed similar conspiracy theories. He wrote that the Shin Bet alerted the entire system early on October 7th and disseminated a warning at 3:03 AM about Hamas's unusual preparations and offensive intentions. He also stated he instructed his office to update Netanyahu's military secretary at 5:15 AM, though Netanyahu's office did not receive the first call until 6:29 AM. Bar noted that a special Shin Bet and Yamam counter-terrorism unit was dispatched, and that during the night, intelligence suggested a localized raid rather than a full-scale attack. He also mentioned a phone update to the Southern Command chief at 1:33 AM and a meeting at Shin Bet headquarters at 4:30 AM.