Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for $815,000 Over Oct. 7 Blame
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million in a defamation case. Bar alleges Netanyahu falsely blamed him for failures on October 7th to deflect responsibility. The lawsuit claims Netanyahu's publication was a "blood libel" intended to shift blame for the massacre. Bar acknowledges Shin Bet failures but disputes Netanyahu's personal accusations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million.
- The lawsuit alleges Netanyahu falsely blamed Bar for October 7th failures.
- Bar claims Netanyahu's publication was a "blood libel" to deflect blame.
- The suit was filed in the District Court over a specific publication.
- Bar acknowledges Shin Bet shortcomings but disputes personal accusations.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 3 million (approximately $815,000) defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The lawsuit stems from a publication in which Netanyahu attributed severe failures to Bar concerning the events of October 7th. Bar asserts these accusations are false and designed to deflect responsibility from Netanyahu for the massacre.
In his lawsuit, filed with the District Court, Bar claims Netanyahu falsely accused him regarding his actions in the hours preceding the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The publication in question reportedly cited a series of failures by Bar, including not updating the Prime Minister, not alerting security forces, and not evacuating the Nova music festival.
The lawsuit contends that Netanyahu deliberately acted to shift blame for the October 7th failures away from himself and onto the former Shin Bet head. Bar acknowledges in his filing that the Shin Bet failed to provide advance warning of the Hamas attack and that he bears responsibility for the organization's shortcomings. However, he argues this does not justify the personal accusations made against him by Netanyahu.
Bar's legal filing describes Netanyahu's publication as a "blood libel" against someone who dedicated 35 years of his life to the country's security. Bar claims the Prime Minister knew the allegations were untrue but published them nonetheless.
