In a written statement to the Supreme Court, responding to Bar's testimony last week regarding the government's decision to dismiss him, Netanyahu said: "Ronen Bar's claim that he warned of the outbreak of war and awakened all the country's systems is a false claim, and Bar's handling of the events constitutes the greatest intelligence failure in Israel's history," according to the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian factions in Gaza, in an operation dubbed "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," attacked 11 military bases and 22 settlements adjacent to the Strip "to end the unjust siege on Gaza (which lasted 18 years) and thwart Israel's plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause and impose its sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Israeli officials consider what happened on October 7 to be "the greatest intelligence and military failure," and it caused significant damage to Israel's image and its military's international standing.
Netanyahu added, "In 2023, Bar pushed for strengthening the economic situation in the Strip and avoiding assassinations in order to maintain calm."
The Israeli Prime Minister also denied asking Bar to prosecute leaders of the anti-government protest movement, stressing that he did not ask the Shin Bet chief for personal loyalty in the event of a constitutional crisis, according to the agency.
Last Monday, Bar submitted his testimony to the Supreme Court (Israel's highest judicial body) in response to the government's decision to dismiss him. He stated that "Netanyahu demanded loyalty to him personally, not to the Supreme Court, in the event of a constitutional crisis. He also requested that the Shin Bet be used to gather intelligence on participants in protests and anti-government activities."
On March 20, the Israeli government approved the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief, with the decision set to take effect on April 10. However, on March 21, the Supreme Court froze the government's decision to dismiss Bar, pending a review of the petitions against his dismissal.
Netanyahu justified his decision to dismiss Barr by citing a "lack of confidence" in him, as a result of the fallout from the events of October 7, 2023. Barr, however, hinted at political motives behind the prime minister's decision, citing Barr's refusal to meet Netanyahu's demands for "personal loyalty."
