Yair Golan Threatens to Sue Sara Netanyahu for $675,000 Over Defamation

Former IDF General Yair Golan, now chairman of the Democratic Party, has sent a legal warning to Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening a defamation lawsuit of at least 2.5 million shekels (approximately $675,000). The action follows comments Netanyahu made in a Channel 14 interview regarding Golan's conduct on the morning of October 7th.

Golan demands a public apology within 24 hours, retracting her statements and clarifying that he learned of the Hamas attack upon hearing the first sirens at 6:29 AM and subsequently went to the field. He also requests that any compensation be donated to survivors of the Nova music festival. If his demands are not met, Golan intends to file a lawsuit.

His lawyers, in the warning letter, detailed Golan's account of that morning. They stated he learned of the attack with the initial sirens, left his home in his private car for the Home Front Command headquarters, armed himself with an assault rifle, and then proceeded to the Gaza border area. The letter claims Golan entered areas where Nova festival attendees had fled multiple times that morning, rescuing six individuals at personal risk.

Netanyahu's interview suggested Golan was prepared and dressed very early that morning, implying he may have had prior knowledge of the attack, unlike the Prime Minister. She did not present evidence for this claim. Golan's legal team asserts Netanyahu's remarks are an attempt to damage his reputation ahead of elections and to rewrite history, potentially absolving the government of responsibility for the October 7th failures.

Golan stated that his actions are not just against him but against all fighters, volunteers, and civilians who responded when the government failed. He added that if his party gains influence after the elections, they will establish a state commission of inquiry to investigate the failures of October 7th.