Ex-Shin Bet Chief Bar Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Blame
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million in damages, alleging defamation over posts blaming Bar for failures on October 7th. Bar denies Netanyahu's claims about communication and actions that night, stating the Prime Minister's Military Secretariat was updated and the Shin Bet had no authority over party evacuations. The lawsuit also details Bar's prior warnings to Netanyahu about potential war and his opposition to policies that allegedly weakened Israel's security.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million in defamation.
- Bar denies Netanyahu's claims that he withheld information and failed to act on October 7th.
- The lawsuit centers on a September 2026 X post by Netanyahu blaming Bar for intelligence failures.
- Bar asserts the Prime Minister's office was updated and the Shin Bet lacked authority over party evacuations.
- The suit also details Bar's prior warnings to Netanyahu about potential war and alleged policy failures.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of a "continuous and planned incitement campaign" to shift blame for the October 7th Hamas attack onto security officials.
Bar's lawsuit, filed in the Central District Court, centers on a September 28, 2026, post by Netanyahu on X (formerly Twitter). In the post, Netanyahu alleged that Bar, despite numerous calls with the IDF Chief of Staff and head of Military Intelligence on the night of October 7th, "decided not to call and update the Prime Minister, not to alert the emergency response teams and IDF forces in the field, not to evacuate the Nova party, and only sent a small tequila team (which proves he knew about the real danger").
Bar vehemently denies these claims, presenting counter-facts in his lawsuit. He states he did not have "numerous calls" with the military leadership that night. Regarding updates to the Prime Minister, Bar asserts that the Prime Minister's Military Secretariat, the official channel, was updated in real-time, with final details conveyed by 3:55 AM. He also clarifies that the Shin Bet lacks the authority to evacuate parties or command IDF forces and that he was unaware of the Nova party's existence. The deployment of the "tequila team," he explains, is a standard procedure for suspected attacks and does not indicate knowledge of a broader assault.
Bar characterizes Netanyahu's accusations as a "blood libel" against someone who dedicated 35 years to saving lives. The lawsuit argues that Netanyahu's publication is libelous and attempts to place his own responsibility onto Bar. A significant portion of the lawsuit details Netanyahu's alleged policies leading up to the attack, including a directive for "quiet at all costs," avoiding escalation, maintaining Hamas as a governing entity, and focusing on the northern front. Bar claims he opposed this policy, warned against Qatari funding, and repeatedly recommended offensive actions, including targeted assassinations, but his recommendations were ignored.
Bar also highlights his prior warnings to Netanyahu, including a March 2023 letter about internal divisions potentially leading to a "perfect storm" and a July 23, 2023, direct warning of an "strategic alert for war" where he stated, "We will not know to give day and hour."
In addition to the NIS 3 million in damages, Bar is seeking a court order for Netanyahu to issue a public correction or denial, cover legal costs, and potentially compel the disclosure of relevant documents held by Netanyahu that could reveal the "full truth."
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