Ex-Shin Bet Chief Bar Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Responsibility
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar filed a NIS 1 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Bar claims Netanyahu falsely blamed him for intelligence failures before the October 7th attacks to deflect responsibility. The lawsuit presents evidence refuting Netanyahu's claims of being kept in the dark and highlights Bar's repeated, ignored warnings to the Prime Minister about potential escalation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 1 million in defamation.
- Bar claims Netanyahu falsely blamed him for intelligence failures before the October 7th attacks.
- The lawsuit presents documents and testimonies refuting Netanyahu's claims of being kept in the dark.
- Bar alleges Netanyahu pursued a policy of "quiet at all costs" with Gaza, enabling Hamas's buildup.
- Bar claims he repeatedly warned Netanyahu of escalation, but his warnings were ignored.
- The lawsuit states the Shin Bet issued an alert at 3:03 AM on October 7th, contradicting Netanyahu's claims.
Former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 1 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the premier of falsely blaming him for intelligence failures leading up to the October 7th Hamas attacks. The lawsuit, filed in the Central District Court, presents documents and testimonies that Bar claims refute Netanyahu's assertions that he was kept in the dark about repeated warnings and that security officials concealed information.
Bar stated that while he accepts responsibility for the Shin Bet's partial failure in providing intelligence about the attack, he is suing to counter what he calls a "blood libel" and a deliberate attempt by Netanyahu to shift blame away from himself. The lawsuit alleges that Netanyahu pursued a policy of "quiet at all costs" with Gaza for years, which included facilitating Hamas's military buildup through Qatari funds, contrary to the Shin Bet's assessments that Hamas was not deterred.
According to the lawsuit, Bar repeatedly warned Netanyahu in the months before the attack about a potential multi-front escalation, particularly concerning Gaza and the High Holidays, but these warnings and proposed actions were ignored or canceled by the Prime Minister. The lawsuit also asserts that evidence from the night of October 7th shows the Shin Bet issued an alert at 3:03 AM to all security agencies, including Netanyahu's military secretary, directly contradicting claims of withheld information.
Bar's legal team argues that Netanyahu, having served as Prime Minister for nearly two decades, knows the Shin Bet is not responsible for managing military forces or approving civilian events, making his accusations malicious and false attempts to obscure the truth. The lawsuit was prompted by Netanyahu's alleged efforts to prevent Bar from submitting an affidavit to the High Court regarding security risks from Qatari-funded advisors in the Prime Minister's office and attempts to use the Shin Bet against political protests.
Bar stated he had initially waited for a state inquiry commission to reveal the facts but felt compelled to act due to a "relentless" personal smear campaign, alleged attempts to falsify protocols, and the propagation of false narratives. He aims to expose the truth, defend the honor of Shin Bet personnel, and prevent future disasters by learning lessons from the events.
