Israel's political landscape was rocked on Sunday by a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit filed by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reigniting bitter arguments over responsibility for the October 7 intelligence failure. The government also moved quickly to fund new Apache helicopters, while abroad, Iran signalled it would only resolve the Strait of Hormuz standoff through negotiation and executed a monarchist accused of backing Israel.

Politics

Former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar has filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that in the months before October 7 he repeatedly warned Netanyahu of the risk of escalation on multiple fronts, with particular emphasis on Gaza, yet no action was taken. The lawsuit has triggered a fierce political backlash from opposition leaders. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot said 'the gentleman who dodged his duty cannot escape the truth,' while Naftali Bennett declared that 'whoever was on watch when the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust occurred should go home.' Former IDF general Yair Golan said the warnings 'were on the table,' and Yair Lapid argued that 'all the material was on his desk.' Eisenkot called for a state commission of inquiry to expose the full picture. Netanyahu, addressing the controversy, drew a comparison to the United States after the September 11 attacks, noting that 'nobody told Bush to go home' despite intelligence failures preceding that attack. He said he hoped upcoming elections would proceed as scheduled but warned that Israel's enemies might attempt attacks or rocket fire to create an impression of Israeli vulnerability. Separately, a row continued over a reported meeting with Egypt's former intelligence chief, with multiple bodies denying contact despite conflicting claims about who attended a related ceremony, including Bar, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and former IDF chief Aviv Kochavi.

Security

The government approved NIS 1 billion towards the 'urgent' purchase of 12 Apache attack helicopters, with most of the funding reportedly redirected from a five-year plan to improve conditions in Arab society. The rushed move reportedly followed indications that the United States was prepared to drop the deal entirely. Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal report citing an arms-tracking group found that Houthi rebels in Yemen are building a new, longer-range ballistic missile using Chinese-imported components, based on Iran's Kheibar Shekan design, with an estimated range of up to 1,900 kilometres, raising fresh concern over the group's growing strike capability against Israel.

International

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is still awaiting the final US position on its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that 'only a negotiated agreement can resolve the crisis' and that reopening the strait depends on US fulfilment of Iranian conditions. This follows comments from President Donald Trump on the ongoing standoff. Separately, Iran executed a monarchist supporter from Bam in Kerman province accused of backing Israel and exiled royal claimant Reza Pahlavi, after the Supreme Court upheld a death sentence from a Revolutionary Court. In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer ruled out any coalition with the Green Party following a motion on 'antisemitic Zionism,' after being pressed by Conservative MP Dame Harriett Baldwin. In Dublin, a hotel reportedly cancelled 70 rooms booked for a conference on combating antisemitism, prompting Ireland's Chief Rabbi to call the alleged move 'a downright disgrace' if reports prove accurate. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials reported sudden restrictions on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet affecting drone strikes against Russian forces, amid US pressure to halt attacks on Russian refineries, though American officials denied intelligence support had been cut.

Other Developments

Three people were injured in an explosion at Intel's plant in Kiryat Gat, believed to have been caused by a gas canister blast. All casualties remained fully conscious as eight fire and rescue crews worked the scene, with authorities checking for possible hazardous material leaks; the mayor urged residents to stay away from the area. In the Lower Galilee, a 21-year-old man was seriously injured in a violence-related incident in Shibli, with Magen David Adom medics providing treatment before transferring him to Emek Hospital in serious condition.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post