Haaretz Newspaper Rejects Netanyahu's Lawsuit Threat Over Oct. 7 Warning Story

The Haaretz-TheMarker group has responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat of a lawsuit following a report that he received a warning call from the UAE president before the October 7th massacre. Haaretz sent a letter to Netanyahu's lawyer on Thursday, rejecting the lawsuit threat against the newspaper and journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval. In a post on X, the newspaper stated, "We will not be deterred by the Prime Minister's attempt to silence journalistic criticism, and we will not be deterred from revealing the truth, even in court."

Haaretz's response, submitted by lawyers Tal Lieblich and Natai Tzuriol, described the report as "the product of in-depth journalistic investigation based on sources on a matter of utmost public importance." The newspaper added that questions surrounding the warnings prior to October 7th and the response to them have been central to public discourse for about three years. "In the absence of a full accounting to the public from your client, the press is fulfilling its role and revealing information to the public bit by bit," the paper continued, "My clients will not be deterred from revealing the truth, even in court."

The newspaper announced that the investigation would be published in the Rosh Hashanah edition of the Haaretz supplement. "The absurd demands for the removal of the article, an apology, and compensation of one million shekels 'for settlement purposes' while threatening a lawsuit for more than 2.5 million shekels, indicate the nature of your client's appeal, whose sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism."

Netanyahu had announced on Wednesday that he instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, claiming the report about the warning call was a "false fabrication that never happened." He stated on X that "Contrary to the claims, no such call took place between the Prime Minister and the President. The Prime Minister's office, the National Security Council, and the Military Secretariat have thoroughly checked the Prime Minister's call logs during this period, and found no trace of it."

Netanyahu also deflected responsibility, blaming former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, stating, "This fabrication is intended to distract from what the public already understands: Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi saw all the warning signs many hours before the attack began. If instead of fearing miscalculation, they had instructed the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the emergency response teams to act preemptively, and if they had updated Prime Minister Netanyahu in time, the terrible massacre could have been prevented."

Simultaneously, Netanyahu sent an urgent pre-litigation notice to the newspaper and journalists Shlomi Eldar, Ruti Yuval, and Uri Misgav, alleging the publication constituted defamation and interference with election integrity. Netanyahu demanded one million shekels within 72 hours, or he would sue for 2.5 million shekels. The notice, sent by the law firm Chor Uriel Nizri, called the report a "baseless fabrication and malicious misrepresentation" intended for "personal and commercial gain" and to "deliberately harm my client."

The Likud party also strongly attacked the report, calling it "blatant foreign interference in the elections in Israel." The party alleged that Palestinian figure Mohammed Dahlan, residing in the UAE, was behind the publication, aiming to overthrow Netanyahu's government to gain control of Gaza. The Likud claimed Eldar received payment from a left-wing organization linked to Yair Golan's 'The Democrats' party to spread the "falsehood." They also questioned a recent secret visit to the UAE by Golan and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, asking if it was connected to the Haaretz report. The Likud demanded a criminal investigation into Eldar, Yuval, Haaretz, Golan, and The Democrats party.

Eldar told Channel 13 that "the former CIA chief confirmed he heard the details from the UAE president." Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reportedly stated in closed conversations that he was directly updated by the UAE leader about the warning call to Netanyahu, but Bennett's office denied the report, stating he does not comment on his conversations with leaders.

An Emirati source told Channel 13 that "Netanyahu's denial is ridiculous. Many messages were conveyed that Sinwar was about to do 'something else.'" Meanwhile, former Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer stated at a conference in Washington that "no such conversation took place," adding, "If there had been a conversation, I would have participated in it... This conversation did not happen. It is a fabrication, it did not happen."