Segal's claim followed a report on Israel's Channel 12 News, in which sources close to Netanyahu suggested that the appointment of tech entrepreneur Oren Dobrovsky to a senior position was intended to weaken Barkat's standing. According to the report, Netanyahu's circle suspects Barkat was among the leaders of an attempted putsch against the prime minister after October 7. Segal added another detail to the account, noting that few people know that it was Communications Minister Haim Katz who discovered the alleged plot and attempted to prevent it. Katz, Segal noted, was also given a protected position in recent political maneuvering. The allegations have not been independently verified, and Barkat has not publicly responded to the claims.