Netanyahu Responds to Golan's Lawsuit Threat with Counter-Demand

Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has responded to a defamation lawsuit threat from Yair Golan, chairman of the Meretz party, with her own legal notice. Golan had threatened to sue Netanyahu for NIS 2.5 million over alleged "conspiracy theories" she spread regarding the October 7th events. In her counter-letter, sent via her attorney Uriel Nicai, Netanyahu denies spreading conspiracy theories and claims her remarks were sarcastic, directed at those who failed to update the Prime Minister promptly.

Netanyahu's legal team asserts that Golan and Meretz "cynically and uglily exploited" her words, presenting them falsely as conspiracies. The letter further brings up an incident from March 2023, where protesters surrounded a hair salon where Netanyahu was present. Netanyahu alleges Golan actively participated in this event, which she describes as a "criminal and thuggish siege" that trapped her for hours. She claims this incident could make Golan liable for false imprisonment.

Through her attorney, Netanyahu is demanding a public apology and retraction from Golan and Meretz within 24 hours, along with NIS 100,000 to be donated to the Be'eri pre-military academy, which lost many alumni in the "War of Independence." If these demands are not met, Netanyahu threatens to file her own lawsuit for defamation and damages amounting to at least NIS 1 million, plus legal expenses.

This exchange follows Golan's initial threat, where he demanded an apology and compensation for Nova party survivors within 24 hours, or he would proceed with the NIS 2.5 million lawsuit. The dispute ignited after Netanyahu questioned Golan's early presence at the scene on October 7th, contrasting it with the Prime Minister's delayed briefing.