Yair Golan Sues Sara Netanyahu for Defamation Over Oct. 7 Conspiracy Claims

Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan filed a lawsuit for 2.55 million shekels against Sara Netanyahu on September 10, following an interview where the Prime Minister's wife suggested Golan had prior knowledge of the October 7 Hamas attack. The lawsuit was initiated after Netanyahu refused to apologize and threatened a countersuit, according to Ynet.

Golan, a former IDF deputy chief of staff, stated in the filing that Sara Netanyahu portrayed him as a "traitor to the homeland." He claims this led to a 450% increase in online incitement against him and heightened threats to his life, with intelligence officials warning him of specific security risks.

The lawsuit alleges that a Netanyahu advisor reviewed the interview before its broadcast, which Golan argues proves a "permission to spill his blood" was pre-planned. Beyond defamation, Golan is seeking civil damages for incitement to violence, a claim he believes is unprecedented in Israeli legal practice.

His legal team stated that the threats significantly escalated after Netanyahu's remarks, forcing Golan to increase his security detail, with associated costs included in the compensation claim. Golan is also seeking damages for emotional distress.

Golan asserted that these "conspiratorial theories" were fabricated by those seeking to evade responsibility for the "terrible disaster," aiming to incite against him and damage his reputation. He highlighted his own service and rescue efforts on October 7, including saving individuals from the Nova music festival massacre.

In the interview, Sara Netanyahu questioned Golan's early presence and preparedness on October 7, implying he had foreknowledge and raising the possibility of "betrayal." These remarks drew widespread condemnation. Golan had previously demanded a public apology and compensation for Nova festival survivors within 24 hours, but Netanyahu dismissed the claims, stating she was "voicing facts" and that Golan should apologize instead.

Sara Netanyahu faces other lawsuits, including one from former Prime Minister's Residence employees Rami Ben-Hamo and Yehiel Ohav-Am, who allege verbal abuse and humiliation. Ben-Hamo claims he was called a "backward Moroccan," forced to crawl, and told he owed Netanyahu for teaching him to work. He suffered a heart attack during his employment and is seeking 450,000 shekels for emotional damages and harassment, plus 50,000 shekels for labor law violations.