Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper Haaretz over a report claiming that the United Arab Emirates warned him about a potential Hamas attack shortly before October 7, 2023.
The report, written by journalist Shlomi Eldar, alleged that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a telephone conversation with Netanyahu in late September 2023. According to the article, the call lasted approximately 45 minutes and included a warning about an imminent threat.
Netanyahu’s office has categorically rejected the report. It said an examination of the prime minister’s telephone records and visitor logs found no evidence of a call or meeting between Netanyahu and any Emirati representative during the period in question.
The prime minister’s office described the article as part of what it called a politically motivated campaign against Netanyahu and his government. It accused Haaretz of publishing a “malicious conspiracy” at a sensitive moment in Israel’s political calendar and warned that additional allegations could emerge in the weeks ahead.
The office also directed criticism at former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former military chief of staff Herzi Halevi. It claimed that both men had identified signs of a possible attack in the hours before the Hamas assault but failed to notify Netanyahu in time.
Those allegations form part of a broader dispute over who should bear responsibility for the security failures that preceded the October 7 attack. Hamas-led militants crossed into southern Israel, killing large numbers of people and taking hostages. The assault exposed major weaknesses in Israel’s intelligence and military preparedness and led to a war in Gaza that has caused extensive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Haaretz has stood by its report and rejected calls to withdraw it or issue an apology. The newspaper’s position reflects its long-running conflict with Netanyahu and his political allies. The publication is widely regarded as a centre-left voice and has frequently criticised the prime minister’s domestic policies, judicial reforms and handling of the war.
Supporters of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have often accused Haaretz of undermining the government and weakening public confidence in the military. The newspaper has also faced previous pressure from the government, including proposals to reduce official advertising and limit institutional subscriptions in response to reports critical of Netanyahu and the armed forces.
The dispute comes as Israel prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Questions surrounding the October 7 failures are expected to play a major role in the campaign, with voters likely to focus on the government’s responsibility for the security breakdown and its handling of the war that followed.
The political landscape remains uncertain. Neither of the two main blocs appears likely to win the 61 seats required to form a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu’s governing coalition is projected to hold between 51 and 53 seats, while the opposition, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, is estimated to have between 55 and 57.
Arab parties could win between 12 and 13 seats, potentially making them decisive in the formation of the next government. However, opposition leaders have so far rejected the prospect of forming a coalition with them, making the arithmetic of the election especially complicated.
Netanyahu’s coalition has suffered a decline in public support since the October 7 attack. Although the prime minister has repeatedly defended his record and argued that Israel must remain focused on defeating Hamas, critics say the government failed to respond adequately to warnings before the assault and has not accepted political responsibility.
The opposition faces its own difficulties. It remains divided among several parties and has yet to present a fully unified alternative to Netanyahu’s leadership. On security issues, many opposition figures take positions similar to those of the government, limiting the differences between the main political blocs.
The lack of a clear alternative policy toward the Palestinians has further narrowed the debate. Both the coalition and much of the opposition continue to emphasise military strength and security measures, while offering few detailed proposals for resolving the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As a result, the election is increasingly being framed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s political future. His supporters are expected to portray the lawsuit and the Haaretz report as evidence of an organised campaign to remove him from office. His opponents, meanwhile, are likely to argue that the report raises legitimate questions about warnings received before October 7 and the government’s failure to act.
The proposed legal action could therefore become part of the wider election battle rather than remaining a dispute between a politician and a newspaper. It also risks intensifying concerns about press freedom and the use of legal and economic pressure against critical media outlets.
For Haaretz, maintaining the report represents a challenge to the prime minister’s version of events. For Netanyahu’s office, the planned lawsuit is an attempt to discredit what it describes as a politically timed and factually unsupported accusation. With the election approaching, the competing narratives are likely to remain central to Israel’s debate over accountability, security and leadership.
