Netanyahu Denies UAE Warning Before Oct. 7, Sues Haaretz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleging that he received a warning from the President of the United Arab Emirates days before the October 7th Hamas attacks. Netanyahu stated that his office, the National Security Council, and the Military Secretary's office reviewed his call logs and visitor records for the period between early September and October 7th and found no record of such a conversation.

In response to the report, which also named journalist Shlomi Eldar, Netanyahu instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz and others involved. A statement released by Netanyahu's office, titled "Lies Made by Haaretz," called the report a "false fabrication" and asserted that no such conversation took place. The statement further clarified that policy-level calls between the Prime Minister and the UAE President are typically conducted in the Prime Minister's office via a special encrypted device and are always documented.

Netanyahu also addressed claims made by Eldar on Channel 12, specifically regarding the alleged warning. He pointed out that Eldar himself stated the conversation occurred in a specific manner, yet a thorough check of both call logs and entry records to the Prime Minister's office revealed no UAE representative entering the premises during that time. Netanyahu emphasized that entry into his office is always documented by security personnel.

Furthermore, Netanyahu refuted another claim attributed to Eldar, stating that Egypt had also warned him of a potential attack, a claim he said was already disproven early in the war. He accused Haaretz of having political motives, suggesting the report was part of a "malicious fabrication" timed for the opposition's election campaign and intended to distract the public.

In a shift of responsibility, Netanyahu pointed to former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, stating they saw the warning signs hours before the attack. He suggested that if they had directed the military and security forces to act preemptively and had updated him in a timely manner, the "terrible massacre" could have been prevented.