Former Official in the Shin Bet: We Previously Suggested Targeting Sinwar, but Netanyahu Refused

Translation by SadaNews - In response to Netanyahu publishing protocols that hold the security establishment responsible for the failure of the events of October 7, Ilan Siggev, a former Shin Bet official, stated in an interview with Kan News that there have been many instances where the head of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) presented options to thwart these events, but they did not receive the political leadership's approval.

Ilan Siggev revealed today (Saturday), according to the translation by SadaNews, that "in 2018, there was an opportunity to eliminate Yahya Sinwar, but Netanyahu did not approve it."

According to him, "The opportunity arose in August 2018, when the Israeli government allowed Saleh al-Arouri to enter the Gaza Strip for reconciliation talks with the Fatah movement. Despite the clear possibility of eliminating both al-Arouri and Yahya Sinwar together, this step did not receive the political leadership's approval."

He added, "In 2013, the then Chief of Staff, Benny Gantz, and the head of the Shin Bet, Yoram Cohen, called for an attack on Hamas tunnels, but they did not receive the political leadership's approval for that."

Two days ago, Netanyahu published a document he had presented to the State Comptroller, which includes protocols holding the security establishment responsible for the failure of the October 7 attack.

In a summary of a discussion held by Prime Minister Netanyahu on October 1, 2023, just days before the October 7 attack, which was deleted from the document, it was written: "Israel is currently facing the opportunity to strengthen a historic peace with Saudi Arabia. There are countries and organizations striving to undermine this opportunity. We must counter and thwart these attempts so that we do not lose this historic chance."

The document pointed to the need to "maintain a level of effective and balanced security activity in the face of enemy movements." Another discussion, not documented in the file, took place on September 27 of that year, during which the situation in Gaza and Lebanon was assessed. The head of the operations division at the time warned that Yahya Sinwar "is showing an increasing likelihood of miscalculation." However, Netanyahu concludes that it is necessary to limit the use of force without causing escalation.