Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Claims
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation, accusing him of spreading false claims about Bar's knowledge of the October 7th attack. The lawsuit alleges Netanyahu ignored repeated warnings from Bar and promoted a policy that strengthened Hamas. Bar claims the accusations are an attempt to deflect blame and prevent the Shin Bet from becoming a political tool.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation.
- Bar alleges Netanyahu falsely claimed he had prior knowledge of the October 7th attack.
- The lawsuit states Netanyahu ignored repeated warnings about impending danger.
- Bar claims the accusations aim to shift blame and politicize the Shin Bet.
- The former Shin Bet chief urged Netanyahu to release relevant documents.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that Netanyahu spread false accusations against him concerning the October 7th attack. The lawsuit claims Netanyahu falsely attributed prior knowledge of the massacre to Bar, along with accusations that he deliberately withheld information and was responsible for "failures and crimes."
According to Bar's lawsuit, he repeatedly conveyed warnings throughout 2023, along with recommendations and action plans to prevent disaster, which were presented to the Prime Minister. The suit asserts that Netanyahu ignored these warnings and recommendations, while Bar alerted him to the approaching danger and attempted to implement measures to thwart it.
The lawsuit also details Netanyahu's responsibility for the "containment policy" toward Hamas, which aimed to maintain quiet in Gaza and allowed the organization to strengthen through funding. Bar, it is claimed, opposed this policy.
Bar further contends that the accusations against him are linked to disputes within the Prime Minister's office and fears of the Shin Bet being used as a tool of the government. He alleges the accusations are intended to shift responsibility away from Netanyahu and harm those who opposed foreign influence within his office, alongside Bar's opposition to turning the Shin Bet into a "secret police."
The former Shin Bet chief is calling on Netanyahu to forgo any claim of immunity and to publicly release all documents related to the matter.
