In brief
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a defamation case against Haaretz after the paper reported that the UAE’s president warned him of a coming Hamas attack. Netanyahu’s office dismissed the claims as a sinister plot, while Haaretz insists its claims are based on credible sources. The lawsuit arrives amid a heated election campaign and could become a critical political confrontation. UAE officials denied any breach of dialogue protocols, citing ongoing open communications with Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his legal team to file a defamation suit against the Israeli newspaper Ha Zaat, after it published a story claiming the UAE President warned him that Hamas was planning a major attack a few days before the 7 October 2023 onslaught.
Ha Zaat’s report, drawn from book excerpts and said to be based on "foreign senior sources", alleges that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed spoke to Netanyahu via a specially reserved line, relaying information about Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar’s alleged warning of a large‑scale assault the next day.
Netanyahu’s office has called the story a "sinister plot" and denied any prior warning, while the newspaper insists its coverage is fact‑checked journalism aimed at revealing the truth to the public.
Israel’s general election campaign is heating up, with the November polls seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership. The new lawsuit therefore threatens to become a political flashpoint.
During the same week, the UAE’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to stability, noting that open lines of communication with Israeli authorities have existed since the early days of the two nations’ relationship.
