Yair Golan Sends Defamation Notice to Sara Netanyahu Over Oct. 7 Claims

Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, has sent a formal notice to Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening legal action for defamation. The move follows comments made by Mrs. Netanyahu during an interview on Channel 14, where she suggested that Golan, a retired Major General, might have had prior knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. She alluded to his early morning presence in southern Israel, stating that a high-ranking officer like Golan, claiming to have fought that day, would have been awake and dressed early.

When questioned about theories of internal betrayal, Netanyahu responded evasively, saying she did not want to discuss it and called for a genuine investigative commission. Golan's lawyers have demanded unequivocal public apologies from Sara Netanyahu within 24 hours, along with an agreement on financial compensation to be donated to survivors of the Nova music festival. Failure to comply could result in a lawsuit seeking at least 2.5 million shekels.

The proposed apology text states that Golan only learned of the attack at 6:29 AM with the first sirens, like the rest of the Israeli public. He then reportedly drove to the Home Front Command headquarters, obtained a rifle, and proceeded towards the Gaza periphery. His lawyers detailed his actions that morning, including entering areas where Nova festival survivors had gathered and rescuing six people at personal risk. They described Netanyahu's statements as "false and defamatory," aiming to portray Golan as complicit in treason and damage his reputation ahead of elections.

Golan accused the Prime Minister's camp of attempting to deflect blame for the failures that preceded the October 7th attack. He stated, "They are trying to rewrite October 7th to erase Netanyahu's responsibility for the greatest failure in the state's history." He added that the attack was not just against him but against all those who mobilized when the "Netanyahu government collapsed." Golan pledged to establish a state commission of inquiry to determine facts and assign responsibility for the October 7th failures.