Netanyahu Faces Legal Challenge as Election Battle Over Oct. 7 Blame Intensifies

With just 13 days remaining until the elections, the struggle for accountability regarding the October 7 failures has escalated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched an unusual blitz of Hebrew interviews, aiming to clarify his messages to the public on key security issues. Concurrently, former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has taken the dispute to the legal arena, filing a multi-million shekel defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu and including details of warnings the Shin Bet issued throughout 2023.

Netanyahu's interview campaign included an exclusive on Channel 14's "HaPatriotim" program, which garnered 10.5% viewership. He also spoke on Galatz, expressing hope for no security escalation before the elections and hinting at his opposition to imminent US or Israeli strikes on Iran, stating it would be "inconvenient" for Israel. This comes after Channel 12 reported Netanyahu had urged President Trump to resume action against Iran before the elections, a report the Prime Minister's office denied. During the Galatz interview, Netanyahu also stated that Itamar Ben-Gvir would not serve as Defense Minister in the next government, with the portfolio remaining with the Likud party.

Meanwhile, the confrontation over responsibility for October 7 has moved to the courts. Hours after his Channel 14 interview, Ronen Bar filed a defamation suit seeking millions against Netanyahu. The lawsuit stems from Netanyahu's claim that Bar was aware of a serious danger on the night of October 7 but deliberately withheld information from him. Netanyahu had previously posted on September 28, accusing the "left-wing media" of a "despicable and false campaign" to blame him for Bar's failures, alleging Bar failed to update him, warn forces, or evacuate the Nova music festival. Netanyahu cited Bar's decision to deploy only a small "Tequila" team as proof he knew of the imminent danger.

Bar's lawsuit presents a contrasting account, detailing the Shin Bet's warnings to Netanyahu throughout 2023, including potential war with Hamas and recommendations for a "wave of assassinations" against its leaders in Gaza. In the absence of a state commission of inquiry to fully examine the events and prior responsibilities of October 7, the battle over the narrative and accountability is primarily unfolding in the public and media spheres. With Bar's lawsuit and the approaching elections, this dispute is now expected to play out in courtrooms as well. Gadi Eisenkot was quoted stating, "The assertion that 'only Benjamin Netanyahu knows how to provide security' collapsed three years ago."