Prime Minister's Office: The Shin Bet completely failed to stop October 7

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement tonight (Tuesday) in response to the publication of the Shin Bet's investigation into its actions before October 7 and why it failed to stop or warn about the attack, discussing all the ways the Shin Bet was allegedly dodging responsibility.

Here is the full statement:

Instead of cooperating with the State Comptroller, the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, presents an "investigation" that answers no questions. The conclusions of the Shin Bet's investigation do not match the magnitude of the organization's enormous failure and mishap, and the person leading it.

The head of the Shin Bet completely failed in the organization's handling of Hamas in general, and in the October 7th event in particular. The head of the Shin Bet did not read the intelligence picture correctly and was trapped in a preconceived notion. In ongoing intelligence assessments, including just days before the massacre, the central thesis in the Shin Bet was that Hamas wanted to maintain quiet and that no campaign would be launched.

This was evident in the situation assessment on October 1st, 2023, where the head of the Shin Bet recommended giving civilian benefits to Hamas in exchange for quiet. Shin Bet Director Bar even said that targeted killings should be avoided in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon to prevent another round of conflict in Gaza.

Moreover, in the intelligence assessment delivered to the Prime Minister on October 3rd, 2023, Head of Shin Bet Bar definitively stated that Hamas seeks to avoid a campaign against Israel, and he even saw potential for long-term stability in Gaza if Israel would provide Gaza with a positive economic horizon.

The most serious part - the Shin Bet and its leader did not handle or relate - not even at the most basic level - to the "Walls of Jericho" plan to eliminate Israel (which was not presented to the Prime Minister before the October 7th massacre) - neither in routine situation assessments nor on the night of the massacre. This is despite the Shin Bet knowing about the plan since 2018.

In addition to all of these, the head of the Shin Bet did not see fit to wake the Prime Minister on the night of the attack - the most basic and obvious decision one could imagine.