Haaretz told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that it will not be deterred from revealing the truth even in court, following a public controversy over an investigation into a warning given to the prime minister before the October 7, 2023 massacre.
Haaretz on Thursday told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it will not be deterred from revealing the truth even in court, responding to the prime minister's legal offensive over its investigation into an alleged warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed before the October 7, 2023 massacre. The statement, reported by The Zioneer, comes a day after Netanyahu instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and journalist Shlomi Eldar.
The dispute escalated rapidly on Wednesday, Sep 9. At 10:17 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Netanyahu had sent a pre-suit warning letter to Haaretz demanding deletion of the article, a public apology, and NIS 1 million in compensation. Within hours, the Prime Minister's Office issued a detailed denial, stating that a review of call logs and entry records found no evidence of any call from bin Zayed between September and October 7. Netanyahu then posted on X that he had instructed his lawyers to sue, calling the report a "malicious libel." Haaretz responded Wednesday that it stands by its report. By the end of the day, Netanyahu's legal team had been formally instructed to file the lawsuit, with a demand for 1 million shekels in compensation.
The confrontation over Haaretz's report is part of a broader public debate over accountability for the failures leading up to October 7. As The Zioneer has previously reported, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that the full truth will be revealed when security cabinet protocols are released. Separately, Israel Police has completed 40 internal investigations into the October 7 massacre and begun presenting findings to bereaved families. The October 7 victims' council has accused Netanyahu of contempt of court over his handling of investigations.
The factual basis for the alleged warning call remains disputed. Netanyahu's office maintains that no such call occurred, while Haaretz says it stands by its sources. The legal proceedings are at an early stage, with no court filing yet confirmed. The Zioneer will continue to monitor developments.
9 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: No one will stop me from fighting for Israel's truth
- StrongEisenkot says state commission of inquiry will be established, accuses Netanyahu of fearing the truth
- StrongNetanyahu on Oct 7 debacle: Wait until protocols are revealed, then you'll know the truth
- DevelopingNetanyahu: October 7 taught me — no terror base on our borders
Source and signal
- Open-source intake