Israeli PM Netanyahu Accused of Lying, Faces Defamation Suit

A proposed law to prohibit the Prime Minister of Israel from lying is being advocated as the first and most crucial legislative act for a new government, even before establishing state inquiry committees or limiting prime ministerial terms. The author argues that the immense authority vested in the prime minister amplifies the impact of every statement, turning even falsehoods into perceived truths for segments of the public.

This is particularly relevant given past instances, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's explanation for not informing the then-IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister about approving German submarine sales to Egypt. Netanyahu claimed state secrets precluded informing them, a statement later implicitly denied by the Attorney General. The article highlights that the state commission investigating the submarine affair concluded that the Prime Minister endangered national security and economic interests.

Furthermore, the piece draws parallels to the events preceding the October 7th Hamas attack, alleging Netanyahu misled the public with a policy that viewed Hamas as an asset. Despite warnings from the head of the Shin Bet about impending conflict and the misuse of Qatari funds, this policy allegedly persisted. Netanyahu is now accused of falsely blaming the former Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, for the intelligence failure, a claim Bar denies and intends to sue Netanyahu for defamation over.

This potential lawsuit marks an unprecedented situation in Israel, where a former Shin Bet chief would sue a sitting prime minister. The article contends that such lies from a prime minister have catastrophic consequences, undermining trust in government directives and potentially endangering national security. The author concludes that a prime minister who lies cannot be trusted and must be held accountable, suggesting immediate resignation if caught in a falsehood.