Ruth Bar breaks silence on her 1993 affair with Netanyahu, his early political rise – interview

Dr. Ruth Bar, a strategic adviser, has broken her 33-year silence regarding her 1993 affair with Benjamin Netanyahu, which he publicly confessed to during his Likud leadership campaign. Netanyahu's confession on live television, prompted by a blackmail threat that turned out to be a hoax, occurred amidst his rapid rise in Likud, where he was initially seen as an outsider. Bar, who helped shape Netanyahu's early political persona, is now speaking out for the first time to promote her new book, "Brain Under the Influence," which details her research on decision-making and includes analysis of Israeli election campaigns.

"We have known for several decades that we have two decision-making systems."

She explains her "survival layers model" of human perception, which is based on dozens of scientific studies. Bar's personal life has also been marked by tragedy, including the loss of two children, but she credits her husband, Dr. Shmuel Bar, for helping them overcome these challenges.