Yair Golan Sues Sara Netanyahu for Defamation Over Nova Party Remarks

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, has filed a NIS 2.5 million defamation lawsuit against Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The suit stems from comments Netanyahu allegedly made about Golan during an interview with Channel 14, which Golan claims echoed conspiracy theories against him.

Golan initially demanded a public, unequivocal apology from Netanyahu within 24 hours, along with a financial settlement to be donated entirely to survivors of the Nova music festival massacre. When Netanyahu refused, Golan proceeded with the lawsuit.

Netanyahu, in turn, refused to apologize and sent Golan a warning letter, threatening her own lawsuit. She demanded a public apology from Golan for allegedly spreading "conspiracy theories regarding the events of October 7th." Additionally, she requested Golan express regret for the "barbershop siege" incident on March 1, 2023, and pay NIS 100,000 in compensation to be donated to the Eli pre-military academy.

Golan's demanded apology text stated he retracted his Channel 14 remarks, calling them "false and baseless nonsense." He asserted that he went to the Gaza envelope on October 7th, armed and risking his life, to save young people from the Nova party. He also stated he learned of the Hamas attack with the first sirens at 6:29 AM on October 7th and subsequently went to the field.