Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar over an investigation alleging he received and concealed a warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The Prime Minister's Office released a detailed statement denying any such call occurred between September and October 7, stating that records show no call or meeting. Netanyahu also sent a demand letter to Haaretz seeking deletion of the article, a published apology, and 1 million shekels (approximately $272,000) in compensation. Haaretz responded that it stands by its report.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday instructed his attorneys to file a defamation lawsuit against the left-leaning daily Haaretz, journalist Shlomi Eldar, and others over an investigation alleging that Netanyahu received and concealed a warning from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. In a lengthy statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu denied that any conversation occurred between September 1 and Oct. 7, stating that a thorough check of his call logs and entry records at the PMO found no evidence of such a meeting. 'Eldar himself said yesterday evening in an interview on Channel 12 that the call he claims took place happened in this manner [via encrypted device],' the statement read. 'But a deep check of the call logs and entry records shows no entry of a UAE representative to the PM's office in this period.'
Netanyahu also sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding Haaretz delete the article, publish an apology, and pay 1 million shekels (approximately $272,000) in compensation. Haaretz responded that it stands by its report.
The report, published by Haaretz on Tuesday, claimed that bin Zayed called Netanyahu approximately ten days before the Oct. 7 massacre and warned of a 'major operation' planned by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The report alleged that Netanyahu did not brief security chiefs. The Prime Minister's Office has consistently denied the account, calling it an 'absolute lie.' Journalist Boaz Golan of Channel 14 also commented that 'the event did not happen – all parties deny it.' i24NEWS reported that Washington sources were unaware of any such warning from Abu Dhabi.
This legal escalation comes amid ongoing political debate over responsibility for the Oct. 7 failures, with Netanyahu's office accusing Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi of seeing warning signs hours before the attack and failing to act. The story continues to develop.
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