Tel aviv: Israeli left-wing newspaper Haaretz has firmly rejected demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retract a report and avoid a lawsuit, pledging instead to reveal the truth in court.
According to Anadolu Agency, the dispute arose after Haaretz published a report alleging that Netanyahu received a warning from United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about a planned attack by Hamas prior to October 7, 2023. Netanyahu has denied any such contact or warning. The UAE Foreign Ministry has opted not to comment on reports of conversations between government leaders.
Haaretz has stated that it responded to Netanyahu's legal team, dismissing his threats of a lawsuit against the newspaper and journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval. The report in question detailed a warning from the UAE president about a major offensive planned by late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar against Israel.
The attack by Hamas targeted military bases and settlements near the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties and captives. Israeli officials have described this as an unprecedented failure in the country's political, security, and military history. While several officials have accepted responsibility, Netanyahu has deflected blame onto the military.
Haaretz defended its report, asserting it was based on thorough journalistic investigation and served the public interest. It rejected Netanyahu's demands for retraction, an apology, and a settlement of 1 million shekels ($331,000), along with a threatened lawsuit for over 2.5 million shekels ($827,000). The newspaper accused Netanyahu of attempting to suppress journalistic criticism.
The publication also noted a warning letter from Netanyahu, who has since instructed his team to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, its journalists, and unnamed others. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu ignored the alleged UAE warning and failed to inform military or security agencies.
The UAE Foreign Ministry, while not commenting directly on Haaretz's report, emphasized ongoing open communication channels with Israel, facilitating intelligence exchanges when necessary. Since October 8, 2023, Israel has launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant Palestinian casualties, as reported by Palestinian authorities. Netanyahu remains sought by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.