Yair Golan Threatens Lawsuit Against Sara Netanyahu Over 'Treason Conspiracy' Remarks

Former IDF Major General and Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan has sent a legal warning to Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding an apology and compensation for alleged defamation. The letter, sent Tuesday, follows an interview Netanyahu gave to Channel 14 the previous evening, in which she alluded to a 'treason conspiracy' regarding October 7th and questioned Golan's actions that day.

In the interview, Netanyahu stated, "You claim you are a fighter on October 7th, you were already there early in the morning, dressed and ready. At a very early hour, when others didn't know, such as the Prime Minister." Golan's legal team asserts that Netanyahu "echoed conspiracy theories and slanderous and false statements, amounting to the most severe form of defamation." They demand a public apology within 24 hours and a financial settlement to be donated to survivors of the Nova music festival.

Failure to comply, the letter warns, will result in a lawsuit seeking at least 2.5 million shekels. Golan's proposed apology from Netanyahu includes acknowledging his actions on October 7th, stating he went to the Gaza border area with his weapon, risking his life to save young people from the Nova party, and that he learned of the Hamas attack with the first sirens at 6:29 AM before heading to the field. The letter details Golan's account: he learned of the attack at 6:29 AM, left his home, armed himself at the Home Front Command, and proceeded to the Gaza border area, where he repeatedly entered to rescue six young people.

Golan's lawyers argue Netanyahu's statements are a calculated attempt to tarnish his reputation and obscure facts ahead of elections, aiming to rewrite history and deflect from the government's failures. Golan himself stated, "They are trying to rewrite October 7th to erase Netanyahu's responsibility for the greatest failure in the country's history. To do this, they are trying to turn those who rose to defend the country into traitors, and those who funded Hamas and abandoned security into victims." He vowed to establish a state commission of inquiry.

Sara Netanyahu responded, calling the claims "wild lies" and demanding an apology from Golan for allegedly distorting her words and for a previous incident at a hairdresser's salon. She also requested the removal of publications and 100,000 shekels in compensation for a pre-military academy. In the Channel 14 interview, she sarcastically questioned why the Prime Minister needed to be informed of a war breaking out and expressed opposition to a state commission of inquiry.

Other political figures weighed in, with Avigdor Lieberman supporting Golan and Gadi Eisenkot criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership and defending Golan's actions. The Democratic Party reiterated its condemnation of Netanyahu's remarks, calling them "red lines bordering on madness" and asserting that facts will not change despite attempts to rewrite them.