Ex-Shin Bet Chief Sues Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Blame
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation, seeking three million shekels. The lawsuit was filed after Netanyahu blamed Bar on social media for failures on October 7. Bar denies the accusations, stating Netanyahu spread false claims for political reasons. The suit also references prior warnings and policy disagreements regarding Gaza.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar sued Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation.
- Bar is seeking three million shekels in damages.
- The lawsuit cites Netanyahu's social media post blaming Bar for Oct. 7 failures.
- Bar denies Netanyahu's specific allegations about his actions on Oct. 7.
- The suit also references prior Shin Bet warnings about Gaza policy and alleged political interference.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking three million shekels in damages. The suit, filed in Jerusalem District Court, stems from a social media post by Netanyahu on X (formerly Twitter) that blamed Bar for critical failures on the night of the Hamas attack on October 7.
Bar's 134-page lawsuit asserts that Netanyahu knowingly spread false claims to protect his political standing and divert public attention. In the disputed post, Netanyahu alleged that Bar, despite consulting with military leadership, decided not to warn the Prime Minister, ready border forces, or evacuate attendees of the Nova music festival. Bar denies these claims, stating he did not speak with the Chief of Staff or head of military intelligence that night. He also clarified that the Shin Bet is not responsible for licensing mass events and was unaware of the Nova festival.
The lawsuit highlights that the Shin Bet did send operational summaries to military structures and the Prime Minister's military secretary starting at 11 PM and activated its rapid response unit, "Tekila," during the night. The filing also details prior disagreements regarding policy toward Gaza, including a strategic warning from the Shin Bet in July 2023 about an impending war due to internal political divisions. Bar's filing notes that the agency repeatedly proposed preemptive strikes, halting Qatari money transfers to Hamas, and eliminating Yahya Sinwar, but these initiatives were consistently blocked by the Prime Minister's office.
Bar links Netanyahu's accusations to earlier legal proceedings, including his testimony regarding alleged political interference in the Shin Bet's operations. In addition to financial compensation, Bar is demanding Netanyahu publish an official retraction on X and cover all legal costs.
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