Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his legal team to file a defamation lawsuit against the left-leaning newspaper Haaretz, according to The Zioneer. The Zioneer reported earlier this week that Netanyahu had sent a pre-suit warning letter to Haaretz demanding the deletion of an article and compensation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his legal team to file a defamation lawsuit against the Haaretz daily, The Zioneer reports. The directive comes hours after The Zioneer reported that Netanyahu sent a pre-suit warning letter to the newspaper earlier today, demanding the deletion of an article, a public apology, and NIS 1 million in compensation.
The lawsuit stems from Haaretz's investigation alleging that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu about an impending Hamas attack ten days before the October 7, 2023 massacre. Netanyahu's office has denied the report, stating that a review of call logs and entry records found no evidence of such a call, and has accused the newspaper of publishing a "malicious libel." Haaretz has stood by its reporting, saying it stands behind the investigation.
The legal escalation is the latest in a long-running rift between Netanyahu and parts of the Israeli media. As The Zioneer has reported, Netanyahu has previously accused the press of hostility and has threatened legal action against several outlets. The specific article that prompted the libel suit was not disclosed in the initial report.
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