Israeli Minister Threatens Legal Action Over Campaign Claims

Communications Minister Shlomo Karai has sent a legal warning to the "Yash! Im Gadi Eisenkot" party, threatening a lawsuit over what he claims is a false campaign accusing him of fleeing his home in a "bulletproof vehicle on October 7th." Karai, through his attorney, stated that on the morning of the Hamas attack, he was at his home in Zohar, in the Gaza envelope, with his wife and eight children. He requested to join the fighting from his community, asserting he did not flee.

According to Karai, when called to fulfill his duty as a government minister, he immediately agreed to attend a cabinet meeting despite the dangers. Security officials advised him not to leave until a secure vehicle arrived, which he complied with. He departed at 4:00 PM for the meeting where war was declared. Following the meeting, he returned to his home in the Gaza envelope and managed the Communications Ministry's situation room from there. He was evacuated from his community four days later, on the recommendation of security forces.

Karai demanded that the Eisenkot party remove the advertisement and issue an apology and clarification within 48 hours, or face legal proceedings. He 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 false accusations. While my family and neighbors were under attack by terrorists, I asked to go fight, and when I was called to fulfill my duty as a minister in the Israeli government, I left for the cabinet meeting according to security officials' instructions."

He further explained that after the war declaration, he returned home to the Gaza envelope and managed the ministry's situation room from there. Karai concluded, "Whoever turns this terrible day into a false fabrication for political campaign purposes will be held accountable."