High-profile case10/15/2026

Can Knesset Members’ Immunity Protect Netanyahu From Bar’s Lawsuit?

Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar filed a NIS 3 million defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Tel Aviv District Court. However, the substantive immunity enjoyed by Netanyahu as a Knesset member may prevent the claims from being examined on their merits.

Key facts

•Court: Tel Aviv District Court
•Plaintiff: Ronen Bar
•Defendant: Benjamin Netanyahu
•Amount claimed: NIS 3 million
•Warning period: November 2022 — October 2023
•The case number is not specified in the source

What Ronen Bar Is Seeking

Bar is asking that Netanyahu be ordered to pay NIS 3 million, publish a correction or denial, and disclose documents. He is also asking the court to rule on the prime minister’s immunity. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Reuven Behar, Yoram Bonen, and Doron Kol of the Fischer law firm.

What the Parties Disagree About

According to Bar, from November 2022 to October 2023, he repeatedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas’s growing strength and the danger of war. Netanyahu, for his part, claims that on the night of October 7, Bar identified troubling signs but did not contact him through the “red phone.” Bar claims that he did not have Netanyahu’s personal number and that communication with the prime minister was conducted through the military secretary and the chief of staff.

Why the Immunity Question Arose

Netanyahu is a Knesset member. According to the explanation by Prof. Suzie Navot cited in the publication, a Knesset member bears no civil or criminal liability for expressing an opinion in the course of performing his duties—both inside and outside the Knesset. The Knesset cannot lift this substantive immunity, and it remains in force even after the Knesset member’s term ends.

What the Court Will Have to Determine

The fate of the lawsuit depends on whether the court views Netanyahu’s disputed statements as having been made in the course of performing his duties as a Knesset member. If the court determines that substantive immunity applies, it may prevent the defamation lawsuit from being examined. The source presented does not provide a case number and reports no judicial decision: it details Bar’s demands and the potential obstacle to their consideration.

The Context of Responsibility for October 7

Bar acknowledged responsibility for the failure of the Shin Bet’s intelligence warning and resigned in April 2025. Nevertheless, he maintains that responsibility must be apportioned based on the facts, including the warnings conveyed to the leadership. According to his position, in the absence of a state commission of inquiry, the court must examine these circumstances.

What this means for you

A Knesset member’s substantive immunity may also apply to a civil defamation lawsuit if the statement is connected to the performance of his duties as a Knesset member. Therefore, the mere existence of statements that allegedly constitute defamation still does not guarantee that the claims will be examined on their merits. The court must provide the final answer regarding this lawsuit; the source does not report that such a decision has already been made.

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