Former 'Shin Bet' Leaders Attack Netanyahu: Evades Responsibility and Fuels Conspiracy Theories

The political and security arena in Israel has witnessed a new escalation in the confrontation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as five former heads of the General Security Service (Shin Bet), accompanied by 31 retired department directors, sent an unprecedented letter. The letter included direct accusations against Netanyahu of deliberately harming the security establishment and persistently seeking to evade personal responsibility for the failures that preceded and followed the events of October 7, 2023.

Sources reported that former officials in the agency strongly criticized the increasing attacks launched by Netanyahu's close associates and members of the ruling coalition against security personnel. These attacks specifically targeted former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, as well as a number of officers and employees who were on duty during the attack, which the signatories considered an attempt to undermine confidence in the agency.

The letter warned of the danger of a widespread campaign aimed at spreading conspiracy theories and promoting misleading narratives whose essence is to blame the security establishment alone for the failure. The former leaders affirmed that these moves are not spontaneous, but rather part of a political strategy aimed at protecting the Prime Minister from any future legal or political repercussions.

Signatories condemned the lengthy 55-page document submitted by Netanyahu to the State Comptroller last week, which included excerpts from secret government deliberations. The leaders considered this document to be a one-sided and biased narrative, lacking the lowest standards of professionalism by denying the accused officials the right to respond to the allegations contained therein.

The letter clearly indicated that the purpose of Netanyahu's document is to prepare public opinion, especially his right-wing electoral base, to reject the idea of forming an official and independent investigation committee. The former leaders believe that Netanyahu fears any investigation with broad powers that might reveal his direct role in the policies that led to the collapse of the defense system in the Gaza envelope.

Criticism was not limited to Netanyahu alone, but also included the silence of the current Shin Bet head, David Zini, with the letter demanding that he respond to the false accusations made against the agency and its employees. The signatories stressed the need to counter claims of treason and the dissemination of false information about fictitious meetings with Palestinian leaders, emphasizing that the illegal disclosure of employees' names endangered their lives.

The letter highlighted the ethical disparity between the leaders of the security establishment and the head of government, as prominent leaders such as Ronen Bar and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi took responsibility and submitted their resignations. In contrast, Netanyahu appears as a solitary figure seeking to evade national obligations with the help of his partners in the government coalition who continue to attack the army and security.

In a related context, a public opinion poll published by 'Maariv' newspaper revealed a severe crisis of confidence among the Israeli public towards its political leadership. The results showed that 47% of Israelis do not believe the narrative promoted by Netanyahu regarding the October events, while the percentage of supporters of his narrative remains at only 28%, reflecting a deep division in the street.

These developments come at a time when Israel continues its genocide war on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in a heavy toll of victims exceeding 72,000 martyrs and 171,000 injured. The ongoing aggression has led to the near-complete destruction of infrastructure in the Strip, amid international estimates indicating that the cost of reconstruction could reach 70 billion dollars.

Observers believe that the dispute between the security and military establishments on the one hand, and Netanyahu on the other, has reached a deadlock due to conflicting interests. While military leaders insist on the necessity of comprehensive reviews to correct the course, Netanyahu views any investigation committee as a direct threat to his political future and the survival of his far-right government.

The former Shin Bet leaders concluded their letter by warning that continuing this approach will erode public trust in vital state institutions. They affirmed that protecting Israel's security requires leadership that bravely takes responsibility, instead of being preoccupied with tarnishing the reputation of officers who have dedicated their lives to serving the security system.

Netanyahu's document is biased and based on secret materials, and aims to prepare his political base to reject the formation of an official investigation committee.