Netanyahu Announces Lawsuit Against Haaretz Over Reported UAE Warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his lawyers to file a libel lawsuit against the newspaper Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar. The legal action follows a report claiming that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas offensive approximately one and a half weeks before the October 7 attacks. According to the report, the two leaders spoke for 45 minutes, during which the UAE president warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar planned an operation that could destabilize the entire Middle East. The report further alleges that Netanyahu did not inform the Israeli security apparatus about this conversation.

The Prime Minister's Office has denied the claims, stating that the story is completely fabricated. Officials asserted that no communication occurred between Netanyahu and the UAE from early September 2023 until October 7, citing call logs and office entry records as evidence. The Prime Minister's Office described the report as a sinister plot timed for the upcoming legislative elections. In response, Haaretz stated that it stands by its reporting.

Other regional and international reactions have emerged. Sources within the Biden administration told The Jerusalem Post that they were unaware of any specific warning from the UAE to Netanyahu before the massacre. Meanwhile, the UAE Foreign Ministry stated that it has maintained open lines of communication with Israel and shares relevant intelligence. The Prime Minister's Office also shifted blame for the October 7 failure toward security chiefs Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi, claiming they saw signs of the attack hours before it began but failed to inform the Prime Minister in time.