Netanyahu Denies Shin Bet Chief's Claim, Says 'You Had My Number'
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied claims by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar that he lacked direct contact on October 7th, stating Bar had his "red phone" number. This exchange follows Bar's NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu over accusations of failures leading to the massacre. Bar alleged Netanyahu rejected a proposal to assassinate Hamas leader Sinwar and that warnings were relayed to Netanyahu's office early on October 7th.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu stated former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar had his direct number on October 7th.
- Former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu accused Bar of "failures and crimes" leading to the October 7th massacre.
- Bar alleged Netanyahu rejected a proposal to assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
- Bar claimed warnings were relayed to Netanyahu's office early on October 7th.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Wednesday to claims made by former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, stating that Bar had his "red phone" number and could have contacted him directly on the night of October 7th. Netanyahu asserted that Bar's security personnel, who are with him 24/7, could have also reached him within minutes, questioning how many lives could have been saved if Bar had made that call.
These remarks came in response to a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit filed earlier that day by Bar against Netanyahu. The lawsuit was prompted by a social media post in which Netanyahu accused Bar of "failures and crimes" leading to the October 7th massacre.
In his lawsuit, Bar alleged that he had proposed assassinating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following a "messianic process" he underwent, but that Netanyahu opposed the move, fearing retaliation. Bar also claimed that early on October 7th, warnings were relayed to the Prime Minister's Military Secretary's office, and a briefing call occurred between Bar's bureau chief and Netanyahu's Military Secretary, Avi Gill, at 6:15 AM. Bar further contended that Netanyahu refused to provide his personal phone number, and their sole communication channel was through Netanyahu's military secretariat.
