Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Sues Netanyahu Over October 7 Blame
The Story
Former Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) director Ronen Bar filed a three-million-shekel (nearly $1 million) defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
Bar accused Netanyahu of ignoring warnings ahead of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and attempting to shift the blame for security failures. Netanyahu had accused Bar of withholding intelligence and failing to alert troops or evacuate attendees of the Nova music festival. Bar's lawsuit details that Shin Bet officers began sharing intelligence about unusual Hamas activity with the military late on October 6 and issued a warning at 3:03 am.
Netanyahu's military secretariat was updated at 3:55 am, and Bar's chief of staff briefed his military secretary shortly after 6 am. Bar acknowledged that Shin Bet failed to anticipate the scale and timing of the assault but maintained that Netanyahu had been repeatedly alerted to the risk. Netanyahu rejected Bar's allegation that he could not contact him on the morning of October 7, stating that Bar could have called him. Opposition leaders seized on Bar's account to demand a state inquiry and Netanyahu's resignation.
The Spread
Split
11 sources placed · 3 from headlines only · 3 not measured · 1 state-affiliated
The coverage 15 sources
- Center-LeftAl-MonitorNetanyahu says he is not seeking to attack Iran again before Israel election (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftHaaretzOpposition slams Netanyahu over Oct. 7 after ex-Shin Bet chief's libel suit (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftMiddle East EyeIsrael: Netanyahu and Eisenkot clash over Palestinian statehood ahead of elections (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftThe National (Scotland)Benjamin Netanyahu sued over claims he ignored warnings before October 7 (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterForeign PolicyThis Is Israel’s Haredi Election (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterReutersNetanyahu says he is not seeking to attack Iran again before Israel election (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-Righti24NEWSNetanyahu confirms on air that the Egyptian intelligence chief landed in Israel days before Oct. 7 (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-RightJewish News SyndicateNetanyahu: Israel ready for any scenario, including attack by PA forces (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-RightThe DispatchMeet the Military Man Threatening to Unseat Netanyahu (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-RightThe Jerusalem PostNetanyahu strikes back at ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar over Oct. 7 contact claims in lawsuit (opens the publisher’s site)