Yair Golan Sends Legal Threat to Sara Netanyahu Over Hamas Attack Remarks

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party and a retired Major General, has sent a legal warning letter to Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing her of defamation. The letter demands a public apology within 24 hours and compensation for victims of the Nova music festival massacre, or face a lawsuit of at least 2.5 million shekels.

The dispute stems from an interview Netanyahu gave to Channel 14, where she implied Golan knew about the Hamas attack on October 7th before the Prime Minister did. She questioned his military background and readiness on that day, stating, "You are a military man of such a high rank, you claim you are a fighter on October 7th, early in the morning you were already dressed and ready, when others did not know, such as the Prime Minister." Netanyahu also refused to deny claims of "betrayal from within" on October 7th.

Golan's legal team, from the EBN law firm, stated that Netanyahu's remarks were "slanderous, defamatory, and false" and an attempt to portray Golan as complicit in betrayal, aiming to damage his reputation before elections. The letter details Golan's actions on October 7th, stating he learned of the attack at 6:29 AM, immediately went to the Home Front Command, armed himself, and proceeded to the Gaza border area, where he risked his life to rescue six young people from the Nova party.

Netanyahu's lawyers, from the Hor Uriel Nazri firm, responded with their own legal warning, rejecting Golan's claims and demanding an apology and compensation from him and his party. They assert that Netanyahu "never spread conspiracy theories, but spoke only about solid facts." They claim her remarks were not directed at Golan and that he and his party cynically distorted them. Their letter also links the current dispute to a 2023 incident where Golan allegedly played a role in a protest outside a Tel Aviv hair salon where the Prime Minister was present, claiming it endangered her safety and freedom of movement.

Netanyahu's lawyers demand Golan issue a public apology and remove related publications within 24 hours, and pay 100,000 shekels within 48 hours to a pre-military academy that lost many graduates in the war. Failure to comply, they warn, will result in a lawsuit against Golan for defamation and other damages, seeking at least 1.5 million shekels, with one specific claim for 1 million shekels.