Ex-Shin Bet Chief Bar Met Netanyahu Aides Before Oct. 7, Warned of Security Risks
Translated & summarized from N12 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 to warn of security risks from internal divisions. Bar also clashed with commentator Yaakov Bardugo, who accused him of political motives. Bar is now suing Netanyahu for defamation, alleging the Prime Minister is trying to shift blame for the attacks. Netanyahu has publicly questioned Bar's claims about not having his contact information.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met with Netanyahu's associates before Oct. 7 to warn of security risks.
- Bar also had a tense exchange with commentator Yaakov Bardugo, who called him a political player.
- Bar is suing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for defamation, seeking 3 million shekels.
- The lawsuit alleges Netanyahu is trying to shift blame for the Oct. 7 attacks onto Bar.
- Netanyahu publicly questioned Bar's claim of not having his direct phone number.
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 sought 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 security warnings and their scope. He also met with ministers involved in formulating the reform.
In one tense encounter, Bar met with commentator and former activist Yaakov Bardugo, who was later slated to join the Likud party. Bar attempted to reach the Prime Minister through Bardugo, but the latter accused him of being a "political player" whose sole aim was to halt the judicial reform. Bardugo's remarks echoed sentiments previously expressed by Netanyahu himself towards security officials who brought him warnings.
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 events of October 7th 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.
