Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directly accused Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar of trying to cover up a major security failure. Netanyahu claimed Bar is spreading false information to avoid blame for what he described as one of the greatest intelligence collapses in Israel’s history.
Netanyahu stated that on the night of October 7, Bar failed to raise any alarm about the looming danger. He did not alert the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, or issue any instructions for emergency actions such as evacuations. Instead, Bar reportedly advised to act cautiously to prevent misunderstandings with Hamas.
Throughout 2023, according to Netanyahu, Bar repeatedly pushed for easing restrictions on Gaza, believing it would stabilize the situation. However, Netanyahu argued that this approach only enabled Hamas to grow stronger without drawing attention.
Addressing separate allegations, Netanyahu clarified that he never asked for any delay to his legal proceedings and insisted on attending court sessions on time, following all legal norms. He also rejected claims about illegal surveillance, emphasizing his commitment to strict legal compliance.
Netanyahu concluded that Ronen Bar’s actions resulted in severe consequences, and that Bar is now attempting to avoid accountability by promoting a distorted version of events.