Netanyahu Claims Secret Meeting with Egyptian Spy Chief Before Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Egypt's former intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, visited Israel shortly before the October 7 attack, but he never received reports on the meetings. Netanyahu denied personal involvement in secret consultations and called for an investigation into officials who met Kamel. His remarks have fueled debate about trust between the government and security services, with calls for former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar to clarify his role.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Egypt's former intelligence chief met secretly in Israel before Oct. 7.
- Netanyahu denied personal meetings and stated he received no reports on the Egyptian official's contacts.
- The Prime Minister called for reviewing surveillance footage to identify Israeli officials who met Kamel.
- A political commentator cited Netanyahu's statements as evidence of a crisis of trust with security services.
- Calls have increased for former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar to explain his contacts with Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the former head of Egyptian General, Abbas Kamel, visited Israel shortly before the October 7, 2023, attack. Netanyahu asserted that he never received reports on Kamel's contacts with Israeli officials and denied personally holding secret consultations with the Egyptian guest. He claimed that at the time of Kamel's arrival, he was attending an official IDF memorial ceremony. The Prime Minister, speaking on Channel 14's "Patriots" program, expressed serious concerns about closed-door meetings held behind the back of the country's leadership and called for an immediate review of surveillance footage from government and military sites to identify officials who met with Kamel. Netanyahu suggested that certain parties are attempting to shift responsibility for these clandestine contacts onto him personally.
Netanyahu's statements have sparked considerable debate within Israel's political sphere. Political commentator Itamar Fleishman observed that the Prime Minister's remarks highlight a significant trust deficit between the political leadership and security institutions. Fleishman suggested that Netanyahu's direct criticism of the security apparatus follows widespread accusations of his government's failure to prevent the attack.
Experts note that details surrounding Kamel's special flight and itinerary remain classified. There are increasing calls for Ronen Bar, the former head of the Shin Bet, to break his silence and provide public explanations regarding his contacts with the Egyptian side prior to the events of October 7. Official Israeli security bodies have not yet commented on the Prime Minister's statements.
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