Netanyahu Allies Accused of Fabricating Conspiracy Theories Against Political Rival

A political campaign is allegedly orchestrating the spread of conspiracy theories, including baseless accusations against former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, according to an Israeli news report. The campaign, reportedly linked to the Likud party, aims to distance Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the failures surrounding the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Central to the alleged campaign is a statement made by Sara Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's wife, during a television interview. She implied that Golan might have had prior knowledge of the attacks, suggesting his quick departure to the field on October 7th was suspicious. The report claims this statement was not spontaneous but was pre-approved by the Likud party, with campaign advisor Topaz Luk present during the interview and the party receiving raw footage beforehand.

Further evidence cited includes a discussion on the program "HaPatriotim" about conspiracy theories and "betrayal" shortly before the interview. A Likud source reportedly admitted to the deliberate dissemination of conspiracy theories until the elections, with the goal of shielding Netanyahu from responsibility for the October 7th massacre. Prime Minister Netanyahu himself echoed similar sentiments on Instagram, claiming IDF officers intentionally withheld information from him before the attack.

Communication Minister Shlomo Karai has amplified these claims, which the author argues normalizes dangerous rhetoric. The article criticizes the transformation of Golan, who reportedly rushed to the scene on October 7th to rescue people under fire, into a suspect of conspiracy against the state. The author contends this is not a legitimate political debate but a smear campaign that erodes public trust, urging even those who do not support Golan to reject such tactics and emphasizing the need to maintain basic sanity.