Yair Golan Sues Sara Netanyahu for Defamation and Incitement

Former IDF Major General Yair Golan has filed a lawsuit against Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding 2.55 million shekels. Golan alleges that statements made by Mrs. Netanyahu on Channel 14 were defamatory and created a real threat against him, leading to a significant increase in online threats and necessitating enhanced personal security.

The lawsuit stems from an interview where Sara Netanyahu implied Golan had prior knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7th. Golan asserts these claims are part of conspiracy theories aimed at deflecting blame for the security failures of that day. He argues that her statements damage his reputation and foster hostility towards him.

Golan's legal team highlighted that a prime ministerial advisor allegedly reviewed the interview before its broadcast, suggesting a premeditated campaign. The suit seeks not only compensation for defamation but also a civil liability ruling for incitement to violence, questioning whether the statements crossed legal boundaries. Golan also requests damages without needing to prove the exact extent of harm.

In a statement, Golan framed the lawsuit as a stand against a political system attempting to shift responsibility for October 7th onto those who aided in rescue efforts. He accused the Netanyahus and their allies of a long-standing practice of labeling critics as "traitors" and attempting to rewrite the events of October 7th to cast rescuers in a suspicious light.

Golan clarified that he was not in the combat zone before the attack but responded to alarms and helped rescue people, including participants of the Nova music festival. He previously stated that Mrs. Netanyahu's remarks were not a slip of the tongue but a calculated part of a broader political strategy. He believes this is a continuation of a years-long pattern of attacks against him and political forces he represents, part of a "poison-spreading machine."