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

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced Monday his intention to sue Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation, accusing the premier of ignoring his warnings prior to the October 7th Hamas attack. Bar also demanded the release of intelligence documents and meeting schedules related to information provided to Netanyahu before the attack on the Gaza envelope.

Bar's statements came in response to Netanyahu's accusations that Bar was involved in "crimes" and knew of a "real danger" on the night of the attack but failed to act. Bar called Netanyahu's actions a "smear campaign," alleging that the Prime Minister is selectively releasing misleading information and that Netanyahu's office staff are aiding in this "cunning campaign."

Bar stated that Netanyahu is attempting to deflect blame by accusing those who warned him in real-time. He asserted that during his tenure as Shin Bet chief, he warned Netanyahu of an "imminent catastrophe" and that the Prime Minister disregarded his recommendations to reinforce the border and restore deterrence. Bar called for the disclosure of all documents pertaining to these warnings, as well as Netanyahu's meeting logs with security officials and foreign entities.

While Bar expressed a preference for waiting for an official inquiry, he felt compelled to act due to what he described as a "chain of lies." He emphasized that revealing the truth is crucial for honoring the memory of the victims and preserving the reputation of Shin Bet personnel.

Analysts view the sharp exchange between Netanyahu and Bar as a continuation of a three-year dispute over their knowledge and actions preceding the October 7th attack. Netanyahu had previously accused Bar of knowing about the danger on the night of the attack but failing to issue warnings or prevent the Nova music festival from proceeding, suggesting this inaction proved Bar's awareness of the threat.

The dispute is partly fueled by 55 pages of security meeting excerpts published by Netanyahu months ago, which he presented as part of his response to a state comptroller's review. Many details from these testimonies remain undisclosed, with Netanyahu approving the release of only select portions.