Opposition Attacks Netanyahu Following Shin Bet Chief's Lawsuit

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar's defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignited a fierce offensive from opposition leaders. Citing Bar's allegations and documents, they renewed demands to hold Netanyahu responsible for the October 7th failures. Former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, along with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, asserted that Netanyahu was warned in advance, ignored intelligence, and is now evading accountability.

Bennett stated that the lawsuit "proves" Netanyahu bears direct personal responsibility for the massacre, arguing that anyone who "ignored warnings, waved away real threats of war, refused any proposal to eliminate Hamas leaders, and in whose watch the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust occurred, should go home." Bennett added that "he who does not know how to take responsibility for his actions cannot be responsible for the security of Israeli citizens for another minute." He also suggested a state commission of inquiry would investigate "who ordered the dissemination of conspiracy theories about the betrayal of security personnel."

Lapid echoed these sentiments, linking the lawsuit's claims to the government's policy towards Hamas. He contended that while Netanyahu claimed Hamas was deterred, the group actually strengthened, and continues to rebuild tunnels and receive funding. "Netanyahu can no longer say he didn't know. All the materials were on his desk," Lapid asserted, questioning why Netanyahu allegedly listened to "Qatar's agents in his office" instead of the IDF and Shin Bet.

Gadi Eisenkot also joined the criticism, writing that "Netanyahu was warned and did not act." He emphasized that security officials have "taken responsibility and resigned long ago," and vowed that a state commission of inquiry would investigate the disaster. Eisenkot concluded that "the master of evasion" would not escape the truth.