Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Sues Netanyahu Over Defamation Claims
Ronen Bar, the former chief of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, accuses Netanyahu of ignoring critical warnings ahead of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and of attempting to deflect blame for the resulting security failures. Bar is seeking three million shekels, which is nearly $1 million, in damages.
In his lawsuit, Bar contends that Netanyahu falsely accused him of withholding intelligence and failing to alert military forces or evacuate attendees at the Nova music festival during the assault. Bar has rejected these allegations, asserting that Netanyahu is attempting to evade responsibility for the attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has reportedly led to over 74,300 Palestinian fatalities, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.
The lawsuit details that Shin Bet officers began sharing intelligence regarding unusual Hamas activities with the military late on October 6 and issued a warning at 3:03 am on October 7. Netanyahu's military secretariat was updated at 3:55 am, and Bar's chief of staff briefed the military secretary shortly after 6 am. Bar has denied claims that he spoke directly with Israel's military chief or head of military intelligence that night, which contradicts Netanyahu's account.
While Bar acknowledged that Shin Bet failed to predict the scale and timing of the attack and did not provide adequate warnings, he accepted responsibility for those shortcomings, which led to his resignation. However, he maintains that Netanyahu was repeatedly informed of the risks. Bar referenced a letter from February 2023 that warned of internal divisions within Israel and instability in the Palestinian territories, which could embolden adversaries. He also personally raised concerns about a potential attack in July, cautioning that intelligence agencies might not be able to foresee it.
Bar's Allegations of Ignored Warnings
The lawsuit outlines additional warnings issued in September and early October regarding Hamas's increasing capabilities. Bar alleges that Netanyahu consistently rejected or delayed proposals to target senior Hamas figures, opting instead for a policy of maintaining "quiet at any cost" in Gaza. Furthermore, Bar claims that Netanyahu continued to allow Qatari funds into Gaza despite warnings that humanitarian aid was reaching Hamas's military wing.
In response to the lawsuit, Netanyahu has dismissed Bar's claims, stating that Bar could have contacted him through a secure emergency line. Bar countered that Netanyahu never provided him with his personal phone number. Netanyahu also mentioned that he had submitted nearly 1,000 documents to challenge Bar's account.
Cleared for Release
The political ramifications of this lawsuit are significant, especially as Israel approaches its parliamentary elections on October 27. Netanyahu has accused his critics of exploiting the October 7 attack for political gain. The lawsuit follows reports that Netanyahu received advance warnings from foreign governments about a potential Hamas operation. Notably, Haaretz reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed had alerted Netanyahu ten days prior to the attack, a claim that Netanyahu's office has labeled as an "absolute lie."
Reports from The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal have indicated that Egyptian officials also provided warnings, while the New York Times revealed that Israeli intelligence had obtained a Hamas battle plan known as Jericho Wall over a year ago. Netanyahu has denied receiving any warnings from Egypt or being shown the Hamas plan. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of Bar's lawsuit and the surrounding allegations remain to be seen.
