Journalist Amit Segal reveals Nir Barkat's alleged 2023 plot to oust Prime Minister Netanyahu

Channel 12 political commentator Amit Segal has detailed an alleged plot by Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack. Segal claims that in October 2023, Barkat engaged in "feverish consultations" with advisers on a plan to replace Netanyahu with himself.

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In October 2023, Nir Barkat held feverish consultations with his numerous paid advisers. On the agenda: a plan to oust Netanyahu and replace him with Prime Minister Nir Barkat.

Segal described Barkat's alleged execution of this plan as "expensive, clumsy and unsuccessful." According to Segal's report, from October 2023 to March 2024, Barkat purportedly attempted to bring down the budget, spoke out against the government from the right, and then opposed government actions from the left by arguing against commissions of inquiry. During this period, he allegedly met with ministers, Knesset members, and media figures to explain why he alone could "save the country."

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As usual, the execution was expensive, clumsy and unsuccessful.

Segal further reported that on November 30, 2023, Health Minister Haim Katz informed Netanyahu about the plot. Netanyahu allegedly foiled the plan by "breaking the co-conspirators apart with personal talks and strategic promotions." After failing to unseat Netanyahu, Barkat reportedly tried to appease Likud members by establishing a legal claims fund against Channel 12, a move Segal suggested was not well-received.

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From October 2023 to March 2024, Barkat tried to bring down the budget, came out against the government from the Right, and then outflanked it from the Left by calling not to attack commissions of inquiry.

Segal challenged Barkat to sue for libel if the report was untrue, stating that a lawsuit would be the minimum required response. When asked why Netanyahu had not fired Barkat, Segal suggested the prime minister did not feel he had enough Knesset votes to spare at the time. He added that Barkat's legal claims fund might also finance lawsuits favored by people close to Netanyahu's office.

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On the last day of November 2023, [Health Minister] Haim Katz came to Netanyahu and told him about the plot. Netanyahu foiled it by breaking the co-conspirators apart with personal talks and strategic promotions.