Netanyahu Launches Defamation Lawsuit Against Haaretz Over Alleged UAE Pre-Attack Warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he is taking legal action against the left-liberal newspaper Haaretz following the publication of a controversial report claiming that the president of the United Arab Emirates gave him an advance warning regarding a major Hamas offensive in the autumn of 2023. The Israeli leader confirmed that he has directed his legal representatives to formally file a defamation lawsuit against the news outlet.

In response to the legal threat, Haaretz announced that it stands entirely behind the accuracy of its published reporting. The publication confirmed that Netanyahu had issued a formal warning letter prior to launching the libel proceedings, noting that the impending suit specifically targets the media organization as well as contributing journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval over their coverage of the alleged diplomatic exchange.

Netanyahu publicly rejected the assertions in a post on the social media platform X, stating unequivocally that no telephone conversations or direct communications occurred between himself and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed during the critical window between early September and October 7, 2023. This public declaration follows previous formal denials issued directly by the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the claims.

According to the account published by Haaretz, Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed placed a call to the Israeli prime minister directly from the presidential palace located in Abu Dhabi approximately ten days prior to the October 7, 2023, attacks. The newspaper reported that the two leaders engaged in a detailed discussion that lasted approximately 45 minutes.

During this phone call, the Emirati president reportedly provided an explicit warning to Netanyahu, cautioning that Yahya al-Sinwar, who was then serving as the leader of the Islamist Hamas terrorist organization, was actively preparing to execute a large-scale military offensive against the state of Israel.

The investigative report further claimed that the Emirati leader strongly urged Netanyahu to treat the gathered intelligence with extreme seriousness and to institute proactive defensive measures in preparation for an impending assault. According to the account, the Emirati president was caught off guard by Netanyahu's reaction, which was described as surprisingly calm, with the prime minister assuring him that Israel remained fully prepared to handle any operational scenario.

Additionally, Haaretz reported that Netanyahu chose not to relay the personal warning to the heads of Israel’s defense and security agencies. The article asserted that the prime minister failed to act upon the information provided during the high-level conversation, leaving senior military and intelligence leadership uninformed about the exchange.

Regarding its investigative sources, Haaretz stated that the reporting was grounded in information provided by an adviser to the Emirati president who possessed firsthand familiarity with the confidential dialogue. The newspaper also stated that three high-ranking representatives from foreign governments had subsequently been briefed regarding the specific contents of the phone conversation between the two leaders.

Corroborating reporting also emerged from The Times of Israel, which cited an Emirati source familiar with the situation. That outlet similarly reported that the president of the United Arab Emirates had personally reached out to Netanyahu by telephone just days ahead of the Hamas massacre to warn him that the terrorist faction was organizing an extensive attack against Israel.

When asked to address the reports and the surrounding controversy, the government of the United Arab Emirates maintained a neutral posture. Emirati officials stated that the country would decline to comment on media reports, journalistic speculation, or private discussions held between sovereign heads of government.

The emergence of the report has intensified an already charged domestic political climate in Israel, particularly given the approaching parliamentary election scheduled for October 27. The political sensitivity of the reporting is heightened as the country nears the three-year mark following the devastating cross-border assault.

Netanyahu has forcefully integrated his defense into his political messaging, categorizing the report as a completely fabricated narrative. In his public statement, the prime minister asserted that the publication of the story was an intentional maneuver designed to serve the ongoing election campaign of the Israeli political left.

Conversely, political opponents and critics have seized upon the allegations to amplify their ongoing criticisms of the prime minister. Detractors continue to accuse Netanyahu of actively evading personal responsibility for the security failures surrounding the massacre nearly three years ago, arguing that he has consistently sought to deflect blame away from his office.

Critics have also condemned Netanyahu for endorsing and giving credence to conspiracy theories regarding the intelligence failures. Such narratives, promoted by his supporters, have alleged that senior officials within the Israeli military establishment were privately aware of Hamas’s tactical assault plans prior to the raid but deliberately withheld that intelligence from the prime minister.

The unfolding legal and political battle takes place against the backdrop of an intensely divided Israeli electorate. Current public opinion polling indicates a highly fractured political landscape, showing that neither Netanyahu’s ruling bloc nor the collective opposition camp is currently on track to secure an absolute parliamentary majority in the forthcoming election.