Constitutional Law Professor Blames Two Security Chiefs for October 7 Failures

Constitutional law professor Moshe Cohen Eliya has sharply criticized former and current heads of Israel's security establishment, identifying Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former Military Intelligence head Aharon Haliva as primarily responsible for the strategic and tactical failures leading to the October 7th Hamas attacks. Cohen Eliya, speaking on Channel 14 and reported by Srugim, described Bar and Haliva as "arrogant and insolent figures" who, unlike IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi who meets with victims' families, act as "lords of the land" and will "never bow their heads."

He further alleged that Bar refused to resign, dragging the country into a "crazy saga" of changing Shin Bet leadership during wartime. Cohen Eliya questioned reports that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel warned Israel 11 days before the attack. After Prime Minister Netanyahu denied such a meeting, Cohen Eliya speculated that Bar might have met Kamel and asked why Bar did not alert the Prime Minister if the meeting occurred. Cohen Eliya directly challenged Bar to deny the meeting if it did not happen.

The professor also referenced Bar's threat to sue Netanyahu, calling the Prime Minister insolent for his statements regarding the matter.