Netanyahu to sue Haaretz over UAE pre-attack warning — SkimNews
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- Benjamin Netanyahu instructed lawyers to begin defamation proceedings against Haaretz after it published extracts claiming UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned him in late September 2023 that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation he called an "earthquake."
- Haaretz reported that a UAE embassy representative brought a special phone to Netanyahu's office to ensure the call's confidentiality, and that Netanyahu told bin Zayed he assessed Hamas would operate in the West Bank and Israel was prepared for any scenario.
- The report, drawn from research for the book "Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment" by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, said Netanyahu failed to brief Shin Bet, Mossad, or the IDF chief of staff, and that bin Zayed relayed the conversation to then-CIA director William J. Burns.
- Netanyahu's office denied any UAE warning was given, calling the report part of a "sinister plot," while Haaretz stood by its reporting and said the lawsuit's "sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism."
- Four opposition leaders — Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan — issued a joint statement declaring Netanyahu and his 7 October government "unfit to continue in office" and demanding an investigation.
- The story broke the same day the UK announced sanctions on West Bank settlements, prompting Israel to order the closure of the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, with the 27 October polls widely framed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership.
Why it matters: The lawsuit escalates Netanyahu's clash with Haaretz from political dispute to legal action weeks before the 27 October election, which is widely seen as a referendum on his leadership. The report alleges a foreign head of state delivered a specific pre-attack warning that Netanyahu allegedly dismissed and failed to share with Shin Bet, Mossad, or the IDF chief of staff — reinforcing long-standing opposition accusations that he bears responsibility for the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
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