--- title: "Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Files 3 Million Shekel Defamation Lawsuit Against Netanyahu" description: "Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has filed a 3 million shekel defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Netanyahu, claiming he warned him over 20 times about risks prior to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack." date: 2026-10-16T21:14:23.868Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ronen-bar-files-defamation-lawsuit-against-netanyahu tags: [israel, netanyahu, shabak, ronen-bar, hamas, october-7, lawsuit] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Files 3 Million Shekel Defamation Lawsuit Against Netanyahu ![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at a press conference against the backdrop of Israeli flags](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/ronen-bar-isk-k-netanyahu-za-klevetu/ronen-bar-isk-k-netanyahu-za-klevetu-1.webp) ## Key Points - Former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar filed a defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu seeking 3 million shekels (over $975,000). - Bar claims he warned the prime minister over 20 times about risks in Gaza and instructed staff to brief the military secretary on October 7, 2023. - Netanyahu stated that Bar discussed warning signs with the military, but chose on his own not to call the prime minister. - Following the attacks, Bar and then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi resigned, taking responsibility. On October 14, 2026, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Ronen Bar, the former director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking 3 million shekels in damages—equivalent to over $975,000 USD at the exchange rate at the time of publication. The defamation lawsuit effectively turns the public controversy surrounding the causes of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack into a legal dispute over exactly who bears responsibility for the security failure. ### The Core of the Lawsuit: Shifting Blame for Security Failures According to the lawsuit, Bar claims that Netanyahu purposefully spread defamatory information about him in order to shift the blame for security flaws that, in the plaintiff's view, may have led to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Thus, the legal proceedings become a platform where both sides will contest not only the facts, but the very narrative of who was making decisions during the critical period. ### “Over 20 Warnings”: Bar's Version In the lawsuit, Bar states that he warned the prime minister more than 20 times about developments in the Gaza Strip and proposed proactive measures to counter Hamas. According to him, on October 7, 2023, prior to the terrorist attacks, he instructed his staff to directly brief the prime minister's military secretary on the situation. The lawsuit claims that Netanyahu subsequently failed to call Bar back or intervene in the decision-making process even after the attacks had already begun. ### The Prime Minister's Position In September, Netanyahu stated in a social media post that Bar had discussed all warning signs with military leaders, but decided on his own not to call the prime minister or brief him on the situation. Previously, Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed his innocence, placing the blame for the failure on intelligence agencies and the military. Thus, the prime minister's public statements and Bar's claims in the lawsuit present two conflicting pictures of to whom and at what moment information was conveyed. ### Resignations and the Redistribution of Responsibility It is worth recalling that following the events of October 7, 2023, both Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi, who was then serving as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, resigned, taking responsibility for the failure to prevent the attack. Bar's lawsuit, filed nearly three years after the attacks, essentially challenges the very logic of this "collective" resignation and shifts the focus onto the actions of the prime minister, making the case one of the most high-profile domestic political processes in Israel. ## Accounts differ ### To whom and at what moment information about warning signs was transmitted prior to October 7, 2023 - **Ronen Bar (in the lawsuit):** Warned Netanyahu over 20 times about the situation in Gaza, proposed proactive measures, and on October 7, 2023, instructed staff to directly brief the prime minister's military secretary; claims Netanyahu did not call back or intervene in decisions even after the attacks began. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/cuu-lanh-dao-tinh-bao-israel-bat-ngo-kien-thu-tuong-netanyahu)) - **Benjamin Netanyahu (social media post, September):** Bar discussed all warning signs with military leaders, but decided on his own not to call the prime minister or report the situation to him. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/cuu-lanh-dao-tinh-bao-israel-bat-ngo-kien-thu-tuong-netanyahu)) *Where they agree:* Both sides acknowledge that warning signs existed prior to October 7, 2023, which were discussed within the security establishment, and that the Hamas attack took place. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Бывший глава израильской разведки неожиданно подал в суд на премьер-министра Нетаньяху.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/cuu-lanh-dao-tinh-bao-israel-bat-ngo-kien-thu-tuong-netanyahu) - Primary source (Haaretz, 14.10.2026): Bar filed a 3M shekel defamation lawsuit; claims 20+ warnings and instructing to brief the military secretary; Netanyahu's position from social media; resignations of Bar and Halevi. ## FAQ ### What is the amount of Bar's lawsuit against Netanyahu? Bar is seeking 3 million shekels in compensation, which exceeds $975,000 USD at the exchange rate at the time of publication. ### What is the substance of Bar's claims against the prime minister? Bar claims that Netanyahu spread defamation to shift blame for the security flaws that may have led to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and that he (Bar) warned the prime minister over 20 times about the risks. ### How has Netanyahu commented on these accusations? In September, Netanyahu stated on social media that Bar discussed all warning signs with military leaders, but chose not to call the prime minister himself. Previously, the prime minister has repeatedly claimed his innocence, blaming intelligence and the military.