Ex-Shin Bet Chief Met Netanyahu Associates Before Oct. 7, Warned of Security Risks
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates and President Yitzhak Herzog before the October 7th attacks, warning of security risks from internal divisions. Bar also had a contentious meeting with commentator Yaakov Bardugo, who accused him of political motives. Bar has sued Netanyahu for defamation, alleging he was not adequately warned, while Netanyahu disputes this, questioning Bar's claims about communication.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met with Netanyahu associates before Oct. 7, warning of security risks.
- Bar filed a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 3 million shekels.
- The lawsuit alleges Netanyahu sought to shift blame for the Oct. 7 failures onto Bar.
- Netanyahu disputed Bar's claims, questioning his ability to communicate warnings.
- Bar also had a tense meeting with commentator Yaakov Bardugo before the attacks.
Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar held a series of meetings with associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Yitzhak Herzog in the months leading up to the October 7th Hamas attacks. Bar aimed to warn them about the potential security deterioration stemming from internal divisions within Israel.
During the height of the judicial reform legislation, Bar met with various individuals, including President Herzog, to present his security warnings and their scope. He also met with ministers involved in promoting the reform.
In one tense encounter, Bar met with Yaakov Bardugo, a commentator and activist associated with Channel 14 who later joined the Likud party. Bar attempted to reach the Prime Minister through Bardugo but was unsuccessful. Bardugo accused Bar of being a political player solely focused on stopping the judicial reform, echoing sentiments Netanyahu himself had expressed to security officials.
Bar has since filed a defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu, seeking 3 million shekels in damages. The lawsuit claims Netanyahu sought to shift blame for the October 7th failures onto Bar, despite Bar's alleged weekly warnings to the Prime Minister about impending multi-arena escalations in the months prior.
Netanyahu responded to the lawsuit via X (formerly Twitter), questioning Bar's claim of not having his direct phone number, stating that Bar saw the signs on the morning of October 7th and could have reached him through emergency lines or his security detail.
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