Channel 14 Faces Lawsuit Over Sara Netanyahu Interview Claims

Lawyers for Eyal Geller have sent a pre-lawsuit notice to Channel 14, its editor-in-chief Yoram Cohen, and presenter Tal Meir, alleging defamation following an interview with Sara Netanyahu. The notice, dated Wednesday, September 16, claims that statements made by Netanyahu during the interview falsely portrayed the act of setting trash cans ablaze during a protest as an attempt to murder the Prime Minister and his family.

During the interview, responding to a question about whether she felt threatened, Netanyahu stated that "bombs were thrown at our house" and that "tires and barrels were placed around the house to ignite them, with us inside." She further described the situation as "a circle of fire around our house, so that everyone would suffocate perhaps and die. And not just us; I understood that it harmed other people. The intention was really to kill."

The lawyers argue that Netanyahu's remarks were in reference to a protest where trash cans were set alight several streets away from the Prime Minister's residence. They contend this protest was part of broader demonstrations calling for the return of hostages from Gaza, which included protests at public officials' homes, marches, and displays. The lawyers assert that the interview implied the protesters intended to cause death through fire or suffocation.

The notice also addresses the decision to broadcast the interview, emphasizing that it was pre-recorded and edited. The lawyers state the interview was reviewed by the channel's editorial staff before airing, making its publication a conscious editorial decision. They further note the interview was disseminated on social media, reaching hundreds of thousands of Israelis, with the channel reporting 146,077 live viewers.