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Jerusalem — The head of Israel’s Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Ronen Bar, is facing sharp criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle over his handling of intelligence leading up to the October 7 massacre.
In a message attributed to Netanyahu’s confidants on Tuesday, Bar was accused of misreading intelligence and failing to anticipate the deadly assault by Hamas.
The criticism followed the Shin Bet’s release of its internal probe into the events of October 7. The agency’s report suggested that Netanyahu’s policies, particularly regarding the Temple Mount, the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, and the judicial overhaul, were significant motivators for Hamas’s actions.
However, Netanyahu’s inner circle deflected responsibility, placing the blame squarely on Bar’s perceived intelligence failures.
According to the statement, Bar was “trapped in a misguided perception” of the security situation. It alleged that in the days leading up to the attack, the Shin Bet’s assessments concluded that Hamas was seeking to maintain calm and that no escalation was anticipated.
The statement further noted that on October 1, Bar had recommended offering civilian benefits to Hamas to preserve stability, asserting that Hamas sought to avoid confrontation with Israel.
Shin Bet officials, however, pushed back against these accusations. In remarks reported by Ynet, they described the claim that the agency believed Hamas was deterred as “an invention.” They insisted that their assessments had identified a growing sense of security within Hamas and an awareness of divisions within Israeli society.
Unaddressed Threat: ‘Walls of Jericho’ Plan
The most severe criticism from Netanyahu’s circle revolved around the so-called “Walls of Jericho” plan—allegedly a long-term Hamas strategy for Israel’s destruction.
The statement accused Bar of failing to address this threat adequately, noting that the plan, known to the Shin Bet since 2018, was neither incorporated into ongoing intelligence assessments nor considered during the attack.
Moreover, Netanyahu’s inner circle claimed that Bar did not notify the prime minister during the initial hours of the assault, labeling this decision as a fundamental lapse in protocol.
The controversy underscores the deepening rift between Israeli intelligence agencies and Netanyahu’s government in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, which resulted in significant casualties and escalated hostilities in the region.
As investigations continue, the fallout is expected to have lasting implications for Israel’s security leadership and policy direction.