Netanyahu to Sue Haaretz Over Alleged UAE October 7 Warning

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a defamation lawsuit against the Haaretz newspaper and journalist Shlomi Eldar following a report alleging that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) warned him of a major Hamas attack ten days before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu has characterized the report as a 'malicious fabrication' and 'sinister libel' intended to influence the upcoming October 2026 elections. While Haaretz stands by its investigation, which claims Netanyahu dismissed the warning as a distraction, the Prime Minister's Office asserts that internal logs and security records show no evidence of the alleged 45-minute encrypted call or the necessary diplomatic visit required for such communications.

// Background

The controversy emerges during the lead-up to the October 27, 2026, Knesset elections. Responsibility for the intelligence and security failures of October 7 remains the most contentious issue in Israeli politics, with Netanyahu frequently clashing with the defense establishment over who was at fault.

// Key Developments

• Netanyahu is demanding a 1 million shekel settlement or will pursue a lawsuit exceeding 2.5 million shekels.
• The Haaretz report claims MBZ warned that Yahya Sinwar was planning a 'formidable' operation to destabilize the region.
• The Prime Minister's Office states that call logs from the NSC and Military Secretariat show no contact with the UAE between early September and October 7.
• Netanyahu argues that diplomatic calls with the UAE require a physical visit by an envoy with an encrypted device, for which there is no security record.
• Opposition figures Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan have used the report to accuse Netanyahu of criminal negligence and avoiding a state commission of inquiry.
• Netanyahu reiterated his stance that security chiefs Ronen Bar and Herzi Halevi are responsible for failing to alert him on the morning of the attack.