Israeli Minister Threatens Lawsuit Over Campaign Accusations

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi has sent a legal warning to the "Yashar! Im Yisrael" party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, demanding they retract campaign material that falsely claims Karhi "fled in an armored vehicle on October 7th." Karhi's legal team stated that on the morning of the Hamas attack, Karhi was at his home in the Gaza border community of Zohar with his wife and eight children. He reportedly asked the community's rabbi to join the fighting instead of fleeing.

According to the minister's statement, he was called to attend a government meeting and, despite the danger, agreed to go. Security officials advised him to wait for an armored vehicle, which he did, departing at 4:00 PM for the meeting where war was declared. After the meeting, he returned to his home in the Gaza border area and managed the Communications Ministry's situation room from there. He evacuated his home four days later, following security recommendations.

The party was given 48 hours to remove the publication and issue an apology and clarification, or face legal action. Karhi stated, "One can argue, one can criticize, and one can conduct a sharp political campaign. One cannot use the terrible day of the massacre to fabricate lies. While my family and neighbors were under terrorist attack, I asked to go fight, and when I was called to fulfill my duty as a minister in the Israeli government, I went to the government meeting according to security instructions. After the declaration of war in the fateful meeting, I returned home to the Gaza border and managed the Communications Ministry's situation room from there. Whoever turns this terrible day into a false fabrication for political campaign purposes will be held accountable."