Ex-Shin Bet Chief Bar Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Blame
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for NIS 3 million in defamation over posts blaming Bar for failures on October 7th. Bar claims Netanyahu falsely accused him of ignoring warnings and failing to act, while Bar alleges he repeatedly warned Netanyahu of threats and that his recommendations were ignored. The lawsuit details Bar's alleged warnings and disputes Netanyahu's account of the night's events, while also acknowledging the Shin Bet's intelligence failures. Bar seeks damages and a public correction, asserting the prime minister's statements damaged his reputation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Bar alleges Netanyahu falsely blamed him for failures on the night of the October 7th Hamas attack.
- The lawsuit claims Bar issued strategic warnings of war to Netanyahu in July 2023.
- Bar accuses Netanyahu of deflecting responsibility and ignoring his recommendations for action.
- Netanyahu's post alleged Bar failed to update him or warn forces on Oct. 7.
- Bar acknowledges the Shin Bet's failure to adequately warn about the attack's scale and timing.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The suit, submitted to the Jerusalem District Court, stems from a September 28th post on Netanyahu's X account that attributed alleged failures and "crimes" to Bar on the night of the October 7th Hamas attack.
Bar's lawsuit, spanning 134 pages, asserts that Netanyahu knowingly published false claims to deflect responsibility for the attack. The prime minister's post alleged that Bar, despite numerous calls with then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and former head of Military Intelligence Aharon Haliva on Oct. 7, failed to update Netanyahu, warn IDF forces or civilian emergency teams, or evacuate the Nova music festival. Bar vehemently denies these claims, stating they falsely portray him as having prior knowledge of the attack and deliberately choosing not to act.
The lawsuit details Bar's alleged warnings to Netanyahu throughout 2023 about Hamas's growing strength, the erosion of deterrence, and the risk of a multi-front conflict. It highlights a July 23, 2023, conversation where Bar claims to have issued an "strategic warning of war" to Netanyahu, emphasizing the internal Israeli division as an opportunity for enemies and recommending a preemptive strike. Bar also alleges that Netanyahu ignored recommendations for offensive actions and even expressed personal security fears.
Bar further contends that Netanyahu sought to limit his involvement in national security strategy, citing a rejected Shin Bet planning document and restrictions on meeting with other ministers. The lawsuit also addresses the policy of transferring Qatari funds to Gaza, which Bar claims the Shin Bet opposed due to concerns about funds reaching Hamas's military wing, and alleges that Netanyahu did not alter this policy despite warnings.
Regarding the events of October 7th, Bar presents a detailed timeline of Shin Bet actions, including intelligence updates to the IDF starting at 11 PM and a decision to deploy a special forces team around 2 AM. He states that computerized alerts were issued and that Netanyahu's military secretariat received updates. Bar denies speaking with Halevi or Haliva that night and refutes the claim about the Nova festival, stating the Shin Bet is not responsible for event licensing or evacuations and he was unaware of the party.
However, Bar acknowledges the Shin Bet's failure to provide sufficient warning about the scale and timing of the Hamas attack, referencing an internal Shin Bet inquiry that suggested different handling of intelligence could have prevented the massacre. Bar links the personal attacks against him to Netanyahu's potential dismissal as Shin Bet chief and a separate affidavit filed in April 2025 concerning allegations of employing associates who provided services to Qatar and attempts to use the Shin Bet against political protests. Bar seeks NIS 3 million in damages, a public correction, and legal costs, arguing the publications severely damaged his reputation and that Netanyahu's position amplified the harm.
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