Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his lawyers to file a libel lawsuit against the left-wing newspaper Haaretz. The legal action stems from a report published by Haaretz alleging that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu about Hamas's impending October 7, 2023, attack.
Netanyahu's office vehemently rejected the report, labeling it an "absolute fabrication." According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), no conversation took place between Netanyahu and the Emirati president between the beginning of September and October 7. The PMO stated that call records from Netanyahu's office, the National Security Council, and his military secretary were reviewed, finding "no trace whatsoever" of such a call.
Disputed Claims and Official Protocols
The Haaretz report, which was excerpted from a forthcoming book by its reporters, claimed that Netanyahu received a warning at least ten days before October 7. This information reportedly originated from a Palestinian adviser with ties to Gaza, who had met with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar allegedly described a forthcoming "huge surprise" using the Arabic word "zilzal," meaning earthquake.
The warning was purportedly passed to an adviser to the UAE president, who, after initial caution, decided it should be conveyed to Israel. Haaretz reported that the warning reached Israel's domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, on September 15. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar allegedly sought an immediate conversation with Netanyahu, recommending either a preemptive operation or strengthened defensive measures.
However, Netanyahu's office maintained that all diplomatic conversations between the Israeli Prime Prime Minister and the Emirati president occur exclusively through the Prime Minister's Office, using a special encrypted device for documentation. The office also stated that records of entries to the PMO confirmed no Emirati representative entered during the period in question, emphasizing that no entry is possible without documentation by security forces.
Political Motivations and Blame Allocation
Beyond the UAE warning, Netanyahu's office also disputed Haaretz reporter Shlomi Eldar's claim that Egypt had warned the Prime Minister about a possible attack, asserting this claim was debunked earlier in the war.
The PMO accused Haaretz and Eldar of engaging in a politically motivated campaign, calling the report a "malicious fabrication with a clear political timing, as part of the left's election campaign." The office suggested the report was intended to divert attention from what it termed the failures of senior Israeli security officials prior to the October 7 attack. It alleged that Ronen Bar and former military chief Herzi Halevi had seen signs of the impending attack "many hours before the start of the attack" and that their timely intervention could have prevented the "terrible massacre."
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 civilians and soldiers and triggered Israel's ground invasion of Gaza, escalating the ongoing conflict.