Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir today lashed out at Shin Bet security service chief Ronen Bar, as his “Jewish Power” (Otzma Yehudit) party paid for ads in Israeli newspapers this morning, blaming Bar for Hamas’ October 7 attack. It stated, beneath Bar’s photo: “Ronen Bar failed on October 7 and is leading Israel to another disaster. Say no to a reckless deal.”
On August 22, Bar had issued a long overdue and public warning that Ben-Gvir was letting violent gangs run “Jewish terror … causing indescribable damage to Israel.” (Since Ben-Gvir became a minister in December 2022, he has turned loose his fellow “settlers’ movement” thugs on West Bank Palestinians, ignoring repeated warnings from Israel’s intelligence and security sectors.) On August 23, Ben-Gvir’s press statement attacked Bar for the arrest of four settlers for allegedly committing “terrorist acts against Palestinians.” (West Bank Palestinians have been assaulted in their homes, found water cut off to their communities, etc., in escalating operations to drive them out of Palestine.) He accused Bar continuing “to harass patriots,” referring to the settler thugs.
