Netanyahu Dismisses Former Shin Bet Chief's Lawsuit as Election Gimmick
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a lawsuit from former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar as an election stunt, defending his security record in a television interview.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected a lawsuit filed against him by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar during an interview with Channel 11. Netanyahu dismissed the legal action as a political gimmick intended to deflect attention from upcoming elections and shifting blame for pre-war intelligence failures. He asserted that Bar and other defense establishment figures failed to provide strategic warnings prior to the October 7 attacks, maintaining that security chiefs operated under the conception that Hamas was deterred.
Security Failures and Intelligence Claims
Addressing allegations regarding the lead-up to the war, Netanyahu stated that security leadership consistently excluded the Gaza Strip from strategic threat assessments, focusing instead on internal debates surrounding judicial reform. He maintained that the former Shin Bet director could have easily reached him through the secure red phone network managed by security guards, contradicting claims of blocked communication. Netanyahu also rejected criticism regarding state investigative commissions, proposing instead a bipartisan panel modeled after American post-9/11 investigations.
"He didn't bring strategic warnings for a war, that's nonsense. They always excluded one arena, Gaza. Gaza was out of the question, believing there was calm and that Sinwar wanted an arrangement," Netanyahu stated during the broadcast.
Political Visions and Defense Appointments
Turning to broader defense policy, Netanyahu argued that recent military campaigns against Iran and its proxies saved the country from existential destruction. He criticized former military leaders for resisting strategic operations such as the pager attacks and the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Commenting on the upcoming Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, 2026, Netanyahu emphasized that voters face a clear choice between his right-wing coalition and opposition leaders.
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Netanyahu dismissed Ronen Bar's multi-million shekel lawsuit as an election campaign distraction.
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The prime minister defended his efforts to diversify military leadership by pointing to key appointments.
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Netanyahu highlighted his ongoing communication with US President Donald Trump as vital for national security.
