Journalist Claims No Defamation Lawsuit Filed Amid Netanyahu's Allegations

Journalist Shlomi Eldar stated that he has not received any defamation lawsuit from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's circle regarding a report alleging the Prime Minister was warned of a Hamas attack before October 7th but did not inform security officials. Eldar, speaking on Channel 13, suggested that the lack of an official lawsuit, which would provide a case number, prevents him and other implicated journalists from filing a defense and potentially accessing documents. He speculated that a lawsuit might be filed closer to an election to prevent such disclosures.

Netanyahu and his associates have vehemently denied the report, threatening a NIS 2.5 million defamation suit against the newspaper Haaretz and its journalists, including Eldar and Ruth Yuval. They also called for an investigation into Eldar and Yuval, alleging foreign interference. Eldar characterized the response as a political attack by the "left-wing media" aimed at undermining the right-wing government.

Eldar expressed confidence in his ability to defend himself in court if a lawsuit were filed, suggesting that the absence of legal action indicates a lack of substantive grounds. He noted that other journalists, including Barak Ravid and Uri Misgav, also reported not having received any legal filings.

In response to the report, Netanyahu's office issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) denying any conversation with the UAE president between September and October 7th, stating that official policy discussions occur only in person at the Prime Minister's office and are meticulously documented. The statement also refuted Eldar's claim that Egypt had warned Netanyahu of a potential attack, a claim previously denied. The Prime Minister's office asserted that the allegations are a "malicious fabrication" with clear political timing, part of a broader campaign to shift blame from military and intelligence leaders, specifically mentioning Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who they claim saw warning signs but failed to act.

Eldar countered that if a lawsuit were genuine, it would have been filed directly against him, Yuval, and Haaretz, leading to a court examination of the alleged conversation. He reiterated that no lawsuit has been received by him or other journalists involved.