Ex-Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar to Sue Netanyahu Over 'Unbridled Incitement Campaign'

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar announced Monday he will file a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The suit stems from Netanyahu's claims that Bar failed to update him on warnings prior to the October 7th Hamas attack. Bar is seeking to uncover evidence and documents related to information provided before the massacre, including Netanyahu's meeting schedules with security officials and foreign dignitaries. He also intends to summon Netanyahu's aides, whom Bar alleges are assisting in a "manipulative campaign" against him.

Netanyahu had posted on X, formerly Twitter, following an Egyptian statement that it had not warned Israel about an impending attack before October 7th. In his post, Netanyahu directly accused Bar of withholding information, stating that Bar discussed the signs of danger with the then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and head of military intelligence Aharon Haliva, but chose not to inform the Prime Minister. Netanyahu further claimed Bar did not alert emergency response teams, IDF forces, or evacuate the Nova music festival, instead sending only a small "Tequila team," which Netanyahu asserted proved Bar knew of the "real danger."

A statement released by Bar's representatives called Netanyahu's actions an "unbridled and baseless incitement campaign." The statement asserted that after three years of refusing to admit responsibility and blocking a state inquiry, Netanyahu is now attempting to deflect blame as evidence of prior warnings he received emerges. Bar's statement further claimed that as Shin Bet chief, he had "unprecedentedly" warned the Prime Minister of an impending disaster, which Netanyahu ignored, along with recommendations to bolster deterrence and reinforce the border.

Bar's statement indicated he had initially refrained from legal action, awaiting the formation of an inquiry commission for the sake of the public and bereaved families. However, he stated that the "chain of lies" could no longer be tolerated. The statement concluded by accusing the Prime Minister of disseminating lies, distorting facts, manipulating protocols, and spreading misinformation as the extent of the warnings he received before October 7th begins to become clear. Following these allegations, Bar instructed his lawyers to file the lawsuit and urged Netanyahu to immediately reveal all documents so the public can see the unmanipulated truth.