There is “unequivocal intelligence information” indicating that Israel is “heading towards another disaster” of a political assassination, opposition head MK Yair Lapid warned in a press conference on Sunday.
"Two weeks before the October failure [Hamas massacre], I held a press conference in which I warned that we were on the way to war and a security disaster. The government refused to listen. I now want to warn again, this time based on unequivocal intelligence information: We are on the way to another disaster," Lapid began.”
“There will be political assassination. Jews will kill Jews,” he said. While he did not elaborate on what the “unequivocal evidence was,” Lapid read out a series of social media posts and responses to news articles threatening to kill Shin Bet Ronen Bar.
Lapid laid the blame at the feet of the government, and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the incitement.
“The ruling Israeli party, Likud, issued an official statement saying, 'Ronen Bar is turning parts of the Shin Bet into a private militia of the deep state.' Such a statement has consequences. They know exactly what this does to some of their supporters,” he said.
“[Finance] Minister Smotrich stated, ‘The head of the Shin Bet is a dangerous man… and is acting criminally to carry out a coup.’ [The prime minister’s son] Yair Netanyahu said, ‘Ronen Bar is attempting to carry out a coup through an armed organization," Lapid quoted.
“Similar statements were made by ministers and senior coalition members about the attorney-general, Gali Baharav-Miara, which immediately escalated into extreme threats online. Both the attorney-general and Ronen Bar are now under heavy security—not due to Islamic terror threats or the war, but because of the incitement,” Lapid said.
The opposition leader said that while he condemned threats against Netanyahu as well, they were incomparable to the threats against Bar and Baharav-Miara, and attempts to equate the two was a “fake symmetry,” Lapid said.
“The responsibility lies first and foremost with the Prime Minister and his team. Those elected to govern the country are accountable for what happens within it—responsible for October 7th, responsible for the incitement. Complaining and lamenting that incitement is also directed at you is neither an excuse nor an answer, and certainly not leadership,” Lapid said.
“This cannot continue. Hatred and venom cannot keep dictating our lives. It is tearing us apart. The dream of terrorist organizations is to see the Israeli government turning against the Shin Bet like this. They could not have received a greater gift.
“I call on the Prime Minister: stop this. It's on you. Silence your ministers, your son in Miami, instead of backing incitement, support the Shin Bet, the security forces, the systems that keep this country alive.
“You won't be able to say later, 'I didn't know.' This time it won't work for you. You do know, you are part of it, and you need to stop it," Lapid concluded.
Education minister accuses Lapid of inciting against Netanyahu
Education Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud) responded to the press conference, "Lapid, the incitement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and against government ministers has crossed all boundaries. As the opposition leader, you are responsible for this, and you cannot ignore it. We have already seen attempts to harm the Prime Minister. Lapid, it is in your hands to stop this. You will not be able to say later, 'I didn't know.'"
The tension between the government and Bar peaked in the past weeks over an investigation by the police and Shin Bet into ties between the prime minister’s office and Qatar, the decision by the government to fire Bar, and the ongoing court case against the legality of the firing.
