'Sad we are fighting in public': Ex-Shin Bet deputy director demands full October 7 inquiry

Former Shin Bet deputy director Israel Hasson called for a formal inquiry into the October 7, 2023, failures, citing conflicting accounts between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Speaking on 103FM, Hasson said a commission of inquiry would show the public where the problem was and what caused it, and referenced the Agranat Commission on the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Former Shin Bet deputy director Israel Hasson is calling for a formal state inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, as conflicting accounts emerge between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Speaking on 103FM, Hasson expressed frustration that senior security officials and political leaders are publicly disputing responsibility instead of conducting a comprehensive examination. He noted that the prime minister's military secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, has access to a complete intelligence picture that consolidates assessments from all agencies. Hasson said a commission of inquiry would show the public where the problem was and what caused it, even if it does not uncover information unknown to experienced security officials. He referenced the Agranat Commission on the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which established that intent and capability do not require a specific warning, and that the political echelon retains responsibility. Hasson also addressed Ronen Bar's lawsuit against Netanyahu, describing the dispute as the Shin Bet suing the prime minister, and sharply criticized Netanyahu's allegations against Bar as amounting to betrayal.