Netanyahu to Sue Haaretz Over Report on UAE Warning Before Oct. 7

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday his intention to file a defamation lawsuit against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The decision follows a Haaretz report published Tuesday alleging that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu that former Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar was planning a major attack against Israel. Netanyahu stated on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he had instructed his lawyers to sue the "left-wing newspaper Haaretz," along with journalist Shlomi Eldar and others, accusing them of fabricating and publishing falsehoods.

Netanyahu asserted that contrary to the report, no phone call took place between him and the UAE president between early September and October 7, 2023. He added that a thorough review of his call logs by his office, the National Security Council, and the Military Secretary found no record of such a conversation.