Netanyahu Blocked Preventive Strike on Hamas, Ex-Shin Bet Chief Claims
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar claims in a lawsuit that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prevented a preemptive strike against Hamas on September 21, 2023. Bar alleges he presented intelligence about an "unusual message from the enemy" and recommended an attack, but Netanyahu postponed it. Bar also claims Netanyahu blocked his influence on policy and overlooked Hamas's military buildup, constituting a significant security gamble.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar alleges PM Netanyahu blocked a preemptive strike on Hamas on Sept. 21, 2023.
- Bar claims he warned Netanyahu of threats, including an "unusual message from the enemy."
- Netanyahu reportedly postponed the recommended strike until after the Jewish holidays.
- Bar asserts Netanyahu hindered his ability to influence policy and warned against independent meetings.
- The lawsuit claims Netanyahu's policies led to overlooking Hamas's significant military buildup.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar alleges in a defamation lawsuit that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally prevented a preemptive strike against Hamas on September 21, 2023. Bar claims he presented Netanyahu with intelligence indicating an imminent threat, including an "unusual message from the enemy" and a recommendation for a preemptive attack, referred to as "extinguishing with an explosion." Netanyahu, however, reportedly instructed that the strike be postponed until after the Jewish holidays, citing a desire for a quiet holiday period.
According to Bar's account, he had been raising alarms for months prior to the October 7th Hamas attack. In September 2023, he warned of an escalating conflict and the need to immediately bolster deterrence. He also claims that a week before the October 7th massacre, on October 1st, he identified a peak in terror intentions and recommended preparations for targeted assassinations of senior Hamas figures. Bar asserts that while Netanyahu approved the preparations in principle, he did not advance them or convene a discussion on the matter, prioritizing a political agreement and maintaining quiet on all fronts.
Bar further alleges that Netanyahu blocked his influence on policy, stating, "This is not a directive from the Shin Bet chief." He claims Netanyahu reprimanded him for discussing "strategy" and even prohibited him from meeting independently with the Defense Minister and other ministers, thereby hindering his ability to fulfill his legal duties. Bar also contends that Netanyahu's policy of "differentiation" between Gaza and the West Bank, and his focus on short-term quiet, led him to overlook Hamas's massive buildup, constituting a heavy security gamble.
Bar's lawsuit details several other warnings he claims to have conveyed to Netanyahu. These include a "rare message from the enemy" received on September 14, 2023, and a recommendation for offensive actions made on August 20, 2023, amid warnings of a dangerous period leading up to the High Holidays due to social rifts and a growing deterrence deficit. Bar stated that Netanyahu acknowledged the need to address Hamas's command structure but did not act on it.
