Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu accused Shin Bet head Ronen Bar of attempting to “blackmail” him on Thursday, escalating the conflict between the two to a new and extreme level. Netanyahu’s statement came in response to comments made by Bar’s predecessor, Nadav Argaman, who disclosed that he holds significant compromising information about the prime minister. Argaman warned that he would publicly release this information if Netanyahu ever acted illegally. Reports suggest that Netanyahu has been attempting for months to dismiss Bar, blaming him for security failures that allowed Hamas’s attack on October 7 to take place. The prime minister has focused his criticisms on the security establishment, distancing the blame from the political leadership.
Bar is reportedly resisting efforts to have him removed, fearing that complying would enable Netanyahu to appoint a more loyal figure in his place. The situation surrounding Bar’s potential dismissal has become more complicated in recent weeks, particularly due to the ongoing investigation into potential links between Netanyahu’s aides and the Qatari government. Firing Bar while such an investigation is underway would likely be seen as a conflict of interest.
In an interview with Channel 12, Argaman shared some of his past disagreements with Netanyahu, specifically during his time as Shin Bet head between 2016 and 2021. One key issue was Netanyahu’s decision to allow Qatari funds into the Gaza Strip, a policy that Argaman argued was bound to backfire.
Argaman explained that he possessed significant knowledge that he has so far kept private, but warned, “If the State of Israel or if I come to the conclusion that the prime minister has decided that he is going to act in contradiction to the law, then I will not have a choice and I will say everything I know and have withheld myself from saying until today.”
Netanyahu swiftly responded, accusing Argaman of blackmail in a statement shared on X. “Tonight, another dangerous red line was crossed for Israeli democracy,” Netanyahu stated. “Never, in the entire history of Israel, and the history of democracy, has the former head of a security service blackmailed a sitting prime minister on live television.” Netanyahu added that “criminal, mafia-style threats will not deter me,” and emphasized his commitment to doing whatever necessary to secure Israel’s safety. The prime minister then leveled the same “blackmail” accusation against Bar, though he provided few details, claiming that Bar had been holding off-the-record discussions with certain journalists in recent days with the aim of damaging the prime minister’s reputation.
“The only goal is to try and prevent me from making the decisions needed to restore the Shin Bet after its abysmal failure on October 7,” Netanyahu said. In response, Bar’s office issued a statement denying the accusations, asserting that the Shin Bet chief “devotes all of his time to security matters, efforts to recover the hostages and the defense of democracy. Any statement to the contrary is devoid of any truth.”
In the Channel 12 interview, Argaman reflected on Netanyahu’s decision in 2018 to allow Qatari funds into Gaza, which was done after the Palestinian Authority ceased its financial support for Hamas. According to Argaman, Netanyahu believed that providing this aid would maintain stability in the region, but Argaman warned that it was a mistake from the start. “The State of Israel wanted peace in the Gaza Strip and was looking for ways to bring in the money. They chose Qatar because Qatar agreed to do it,” Argaman explained, but he felt that Netanyahu’s decision was fundamentally flawed.
Critics of Netanyahu have long accused him of attempting to strengthen Hamas at the expense of the Palestinian Authority, keeping Palestinian factions divided and undermining efforts for a two-state solution. Netanyahu has justified the Qatari funding as a necessary measure to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Argaman noted, “We bought peace with Qatari money — it was clear to everyone that this would backfire on us one day.” He acknowledged, however, that both the Shin Bet and the IDF should have done more to stop the Qatari funds from reaching Gaza.
Argaman also touched upon the ongoing investigation, which is subject to a strict gag order, regarding alleged financial ties between the Prime Minister’s Office and Qatar. He suggested that if these allegations were proven true, they would not have occurred without Netanyahu’s knowledge. “The prime minister knows everything that happens in his office, nothing happens without his approval,” Argaman stated. He further emphasized that Netanyahu should have been the one to initiate a Shin Bet inquiry into these possible connections.
Argaman did not hide his disdain for the Qatari government, calling any dealings with Doha akin to “dancing with the devil.” He described Qatar as a key player in the Shiite axis and accused it of facilitating Hamas’s military buildup in Gaza. “If, god forbid, it managed to gain control of the Prime Minister’s Office, it would mean that it influences the prime minister, the Prime Minister’s Office, the State of Israel’s policy toward Hamas in general and the hostage deal in particular.” He added, “That sounds to me like a catastrophe, and I hope that there’s nothing true about it.”
Finally, Argaman speculated that Netanyahu’s reluctance to fire Bar could be tied to the ongoing investigation, as doing so would raise questions about a potential conflict of interest. He urged Bar to avoid resigning immediately, despite the failures leading to the October 7 Hamas attack, suggesting that Bar should eventually step down, but only after the investigation had concluded. Argaman voiced concern about the potential political nature of any future Shin Bet appointments, warning, “I am extremely afraid of the possibility that an appointment made by this government, an appointment made by this prime minister, could be a political appointment.”
{Matzav.com Israel}

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