Netanyahu Sues Haaretz Over Report of UAE Warning Before Oct. 7

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he has instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper Haaretz, journalist Shlomi Eldar, and others who disseminated a report claiming he was warned of an imminent Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. In a lengthy statement, Netanyahu asserted that no conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed took place between early September and the October 7 massacre. He stated that his office, the National Security Council, and the military secretariat thoroughly reviewed his call logs and found no record of such a call.

According to Netanyahu's office, political discussions between the two leaders are typically arranged at the Prime Minister's office, with an Emirati representative using a specially encrypted device. These communications are systematically logged, and entry records for the building were also checked, revealing no presence of an Emirati representative during the period in question. The statement emphasized that entry into the Prime Minister's office is always documented and recorded by security officials.

Journalist Shlomi Eldar had previously stated on Israel's Channel 12 that the alleged warning conversation occurred via this secure channel. Netanyahu also refuted claims that Egypt had warned him of a potential attack, noting that this version had already been denied early in the war.

Netanyahu denounced the report as a "machination" published for political purposes during an election campaign. He accused Haaretz of attempting to deflect responsibility from former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. He claimed that both officials had received numerous warning signs in the hours preceding the offensive but failed to place forces on alert or inform him in a timely manner, suggesting the massacre could have been prevented with proper mobilization.

The Haaretz investigation reported that Mohammed bin Zayed had personally warned Netanyahu about ten days before October 7 that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel and alerted him to the potential regional consequences. Haaretz has maintained the accuracy of its reporting.