Netanyahu 'Criminalizes' Senior Security Official, Claiming He Knew of Real Threat on October 7 Eve

In an attempt to what "Yedioth Ahronoth" described as "diverting attention from himself," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a fierce attack against former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar via his account on the "X" platform.

In a post on his page, Netanyahu criminalized the former head of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) over his performance prior to the October 7 attack, repeating a "conspiracy theory" that Bar "knew of the existence of a real threat on the night of October 7." He stated that Bar conducted conversations on the night of the attack with former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and former Military Intelligence Division head Aharon Haliva, during which they discussed "all indicators pointing to this."

Netanyahu added that Bar "decided not to contact and inform the Prime Minister, not to warn alert teams and IDF forces in the field, and not to evacuate the Nova festival," limiting himself, according to him, to sending a "miniature" team from the "Tequila" force, which Netanyahu considered "proof that he knew of the existence of a real threat."

In the context of discussing criticisms directed at him, Netanyahu said that "left-wing media" has been waging in recent weeks a "vile and lying campaign" aimed at holding him responsible for all "failures and crimes" of Ronen Bar on the eve of October 7. He also claimed that "foreign and hostile states and entities, including Arab countries," stand behind what he described as "false blood campaigns," with the aim of "toppling Netanyahu's right-wing government and replacing it with a government of the left and Arab parties."

Netanyahu also denied meeting or speaking with former Egyptian General Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel in the months preceding October 7, or receiving an Egyptian warning regarding a potential attack, affirming that "no Israeli intelligence official conveyed an Egyptian warning to the Prime Minister."

Despite Netanyahu stating that he "ordered filing a defamation lawsuit" against the "Wall Street Journal," he had also previously vowed to sue the "New York Times" over a report claiming he received a warning from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed regarding a "Hamas" attack. According to what is known to "Yedioth Ahronoth," he has not filed a lawsuit until now.

In testimony previously submitted to the Supreme Court during deliberations on his dismissal, former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar denied prior knowledge of the October 7 attack, responding to "conspiracy theories." He said: "We did not hide anything on October 7. I requested to brief the Prime Minister at 05:15," adding that the claim that Shin Bet possessed "prior information" is a "lie" and "systematic incitement against me and against the organization."

Bar clarified that Shin Bet published a warning at 03:03 regarding "unusual preparations and the possibility of offensive intentions by Hamas," and warned the political level in 2023 of the deterioration of the security situation and that enemies saw the "opportunity as favorable," warning of the possibility of a "storm in every sense of the word."

He added that he informed Netanyahu in July 2023 of the severity of the security situation in what was described as akin to a "warning of war."

According to Bar, Shin Bet woke up "the entire system" on the night of the attack and sent the "Tequila team" after misinterpreting intelligence indicators, while directing at 05:15 to brief the Prime Minister's military secretary, but Netanyahu received the first call from him (the secretary) at 06:29.

Response from Ronen Bar's Associates

Bar did not officially respond to Netanyahu, but "Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted close associates saying that "Netanyahu, in light of the series of disclosures about warnings he received before October 7 from regional leaders and heads of security agencies, once again loses his composure and shirks responsibility, as if he were not the Prime Minister throughout the 15 years preceding the attack," expressing hope that "an investigation committee established soon will investigate the events leading up to that terrible day by years, months, and days, without bias and for future generations."

According to associates of the former Shin Bet head, "Ronen Bar did not speak with any heads of the security system, as Netanyahu claims. The Prime Minister's military secretary was briefed at three in the morning. The Prime Minister knows that 'Tequila' is the force owned by the Shin Bet head and is dispatched when there is concern. Netanyahu insults the truth and the dead to escape his responsibility for the events."

Source: "Yedioth Ahronoth"