Netanyahu Faces Accountability Crisis Amid Internal Security Failures
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to deflect blame for security lapses leading to Hamas attack on October 7, while the head of Shin Bet insists on his responsibilities.
In a bid to avoid political accountability for the failures that led to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has engaged in a public row with Ronen Bar, the head of the Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet.
Bar has declined to resign from his position, insisting he remains committed to recovering Israeli hostages held by Hamas and establishing a commission to investigate the policies that led to the attack referred to as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.'
Observers note that Netanyahu has mobilized what critics term a 'poison machine' on social media, spreading false claims, including the assertion that he and Bar had agreed on Bar's resignation by the end of the month.
Bar explicitly refuted this claim during a press briefing with journalists, stating, "I will not resign at the end of the month or in the upcoming months.
I will stay in my post until I ensure the return of 59 hostages held by Hamas and the formation of a commission to uncover the truth about events on October 7 and prior."
He also indicated that he would not capitulate to Netanyahu's pressures, unlike previous leaders of the police and military, expressing his determination to withstand the 'poison machine' campaign.
In a document released on Tuesday, Bar acknowledged significant failings within Shin Bet to anticipate Hamas' intentions and critiqued both himself and his agency.
He asserted that the agency played a role in enabling Hamas' assault on Israeli communities and military sites near the Gaza Strip, accepting personal responsibility for the agency's failures.
Bar remarked that the political leadership imposed a 'risky policy' that encouraged Hamas to launch its offensive.
This policy reportedly included far-right Jewish incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, harsher conditions for Palestinian prisoners, and rising violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israeli intelligence reports have indicated that Bar issued documented written warnings to Netanyahu about the potential for a major military escalation due to this policy, which reportedly went unheeded.
In response to Bar's findings, Netanyahu issued an angry statement, contending that the investigation failed to address any fundamental questions regarding the intelligence failures that occurred.
He criticized Bar for opting to publish an inquiry that, in his view, did not provide genuine answers to the severe intelligence shortcomings identified within Shin Bet.
Netanyahu continued his criticism by stating, "The conclusions of the investigation do not reflect the massive failure committed by the agency, nor the accountability of those leading it."
Supporters of Netanyahu have echoed these sentiments, claiming that Bar had misinterpreted intelligence assessments and had clung to erroneous concepts.
They accused Bar of consistently believing that Hamas intended to maintain calm and would not instigate military confrontation.
On October 3, 2023, Bar reportedly provided Netanyahu with a critical intelligence assessment asserting that Hamas was not interested in military escalation, suggesting that stability in Gaza could be sustained if Israel offered economic prospects for the territory.
Bar countered these criticisms by accusing Netanyahu of 'distorting the facts' and reiterated that unlike military and security leaders, Netanyahu was avoiding accountability for these failings.
Amid these disputes, Israeli military correspondent Amos Harel reported that Netanyahu's support from U.S. President Joe Biden following their recent meeting has led him to instill fear within the professional circles of the security establishment and the judiciary as investigations and details of security failures come to light.
Israeli journalist Yossi Verter commented that Bar has become a target of Netanyahu's so-called poison machine, which has been operational for months.
He noted that since the onset of the conflict, Netanyahu and his surrounding associates have sought to undermine both Bar and other security leaders, including the recently resigned Chief of Staff and the ousted Defense Minister.
Verter characterized Bar as resilient, stating that he is not the kind to back down easily amid the ongoing harassment and leaks orchestrated in a manner characteristic of Netanyahu's political strategies.
Bar has declined to resign from his position, insisting he remains committed to recovering Israeli hostages held by Hamas and establishing a commission to investigate the policies that led to the attack referred to as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.'
Observers note that Netanyahu has mobilized what critics term a 'poison machine' on social media, spreading false claims, including the assertion that he and Bar had agreed on Bar's resignation by the end of the month.
Bar explicitly refuted this claim during a press briefing with journalists, stating, "I will not resign at the end of the month or in the upcoming months.
I will stay in my post until I ensure the return of 59 hostages held by Hamas and the formation of a commission to uncover the truth about events on October 7 and prior."
He also indicated that he would not capitulate to Netanyahu's pressures, unlike previous leaders of the police and military, expressing his determination to withstand the 'poison machine' campaign.
In a document released on Tuesday, Bar acknowledged significant failings within Shin Bet to anticipate Hamas' intentions and critiqued both himself and his agency.
He asserted that the agency played a role in enabling Hamas' assault on Israeli communities and military sites near the Gaza Strip, accepting personal responsibility for the agency's failures.
Bar remarked that the political leadership imposed a 'risky policy' that encouraged Hamas to launch its offensive.
This policy reportedly included far-right Jewish incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, harsher conditions for Palestinian prisoners, and rising violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israeli intelligence reports have indicated that Bar issued documented written warnings to Netanyahu about the potential for a major military escalation due to this policy, which reportedly went unheeded.
In response to Bar's findings, Netanyahu issued an angry statement, contending that the investigation failed to address any fundamental questions regarding the intelligence failures that occurred.
He criticized Bar for opting to publish an inquiry that, in his view, did not provide genuine answers to the severe intelligence shortcomings identified within Shin Bet.
Netanyahu continued his criticism by stating, "The conclusions of the investigation do not reflect the massive failure committed by the agency, nor the accountability of those leading it."
Supporters of Netanyahu have echoed these sentiments, claiming that Bar had misinterpreted intelligence assessments and had clung to erroneous concepts.
They accused Bar of consistently believing that Hamas intended to maintain calm and would not instigate military confrontation.
On October 3, 2023, Bar reportedly provided Netanyahu with a critical intelligence assessment asserting that Hamas was not interested in military escalation, suggesting that stability in Gaza could be sustained if Israel offered economic prospects for the territory.
Bar countered these criticisms by accusing Netanyahu of 'distorting the facts' and reiterated that unlike military and security leaders, Netanyahu was avoiding accountability for these failings.
Amid these disputes, Israeli military correspondent Amos Harel reported that Netanyahu's support from U.S. President Joe Biden following their recent meeting has led him to instill fear within the professional circles of the security establishment and the judiciary as investigations and details of security failures come to light.
Israeli journalist Yossi Verter commented that Bar has become a target of Netanyahu's so-called poison machine, which has been operational for months.
He noted that since the onset of the conflict, Netanyahu and his surrounding associates have sought to undermine both Bar and other security leaders, including the recently resigned Chief of Staff and the ousted Defense Minister.
Verter characterized Bar as resilient, stating that he is not the kind to back down easily amid the ongoing harassment and leaks orchestrated in a manner characteristic of Netanyahu's political strategies.