Netanyahu's Wife May Be Forced to Apologize in Court, Ex-Aide Claims

Nir Hefetz, former spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, believes Sara Netanyahu will eventually be compelled to apologize in court to avoid paying significant compensation from her own funds in a defamation dispute with Yair Golan, chairman of the opposition party 'The Democrats'. Hefetz suggested that Sara Netanyahu's legal team would likely delay the proceedings until after the upcoming elections, after which she would be forced to make concessions.

"Knowing her, I don't believe she will risk paying this money, and she will have to pay," Hefetz stated in an interview with 103FM radio. He predicted, "I assume they will drag their feet until the elections, and then in court she will have to apologize."

Hefetz also commented on the broader political implications of the legal battle, suggesting it reflects the Netanyahu family's priorities. He contrasted the focus on this dispute with the sacrifices of soldiers serving in reserve duty for over 500 days and the victims of the Nova music festival massacre, stating, "It's not about us, it's not about those who died at the Nova festival or people who spend 500 days in reserve, the story is about them. Whether they stay in power or not, that's the mindset."

Furthermore, Hefetz criticized the Likud party's election campaign strategy, particularly its focus on conspiracy theories surrounding the October 7th events. He expressed confusion, stating, "I'm confused, I don't understand what's happening. This agenda or the topic of draft evasion is not what will help win elections." He contrasted the current campaign, which he described as defensive and reactive, with previous successful campaigns he managed for Netanyahu, noting, "Call it desperation or panic. He's walking around with a fire extinguisher and has to put out fires. Netanyahu is not running a campaign, he is on the defensive."

The legal conflict began when Golan sent Sara Netanyahu a formal warning of his intent to file a defamation lawsuit for 2.5 million shekels, stemming from her remarks about his actions on October 7th. In response, Sara Netanyahu sent Golan a warning of her own potential lawsuit, demanding an apology and compensation for his statements regarding an incident at a Tel Aviv hair salon.