There are estimates in the Israeli political arena that other security agencies will join the position of the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, who is demanding the formation of an official commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7, while the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, refuses to form it and refused Bar’s participation in the discussion of forming such a commission during the government meeting yesterday, in which it was decided to postpone the discussion of the issue for three months.

The Israeli public radio "Kan" reported today, Monday, that Bar believes that forming an official investigation committee like this is necessary, in light of the "prevailing conspiracy theories in Israel" about October 7, and quoted him as saying that not forming such an investigation committee "creates fertile ground for false allegations" about the events of October 7.

The Ynet website quoted sources who estimate that Israeli security agencies have joined Bar's position, saying that he believes that the only way to restore public confidence in the Shin Bet is by forming an official commission of inquiry only, and not a government commission of inquiry that will not enjoy the public's confidence.

A senior source considered that "Barr sees his position as someone who applies the principles of the 'Shabak Law', foremost among which is 'preserving democracy'."

Therefore, public confidence requires that conspiracy theories be refuted once and for all, which were associated with the Shin Bet's performance on the eve of the attack on Israel" on October 7.

In a document published by Kan, Bar demands the formation of an official commission of inquiry to investigate him as well regarding his role in decision-making, in order to remove “the cloud over the Shin Bet that he acted based on subjective considerations.”

Bar said that in parallel, the Shin Bet is conducting internal investigations and drawing conclusions, but this is not a substitute for an official commission of inquiry.

Since the beginning of the war on Gaza, reports have been circulating, including reports from political circles, which Ynet described as “conspiracy theories,” and the Shin Bet said were “fake news,” stating that Shin Bet and Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman) officials knew in advance about Hamas’s preparations for the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on October 7, 2023, but did not talk about it out of negligence and in order not to expose important and necessary sources in Hamas.

In this context, Likud MK Gali Gottlieb claimed that the husband of a prominent activist in the anti-government protest movement demanding the return of Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip, Shikma Brasler, who serves in one of the security services, was in contact with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Mossad chief David Barnea denied Gottlieb's statements, which were based on posts on social networks, and called on the police to investigate them.

Netanyahu said during the government meeting yesterday, to justify his refusal to form an official commission of inquiry, that "it cannot be said that the war is over," while the government's attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, asked during the meeting why Bar's position was not circulated to the ministers.

Netanyahu responded by saying, "He is an employee. What does he have to do with this issue? This is a contradiction. By what authority does he express a position without being asked to do so, and without being connected to it in the first place?"

"We presented a position to the court in The Hague, according to which we intend to establish an official commission of inquiry, and we cannot back down from that," Baharav-Miara replied. Netanyahu asked her, "Who approved that?" Baharav-Miara replied, "You, sir."