Netanyahu Orders Defamation Lawsuit Over Haaretz Report on UAE Warning
Haaretz journalist Shlomi Eldar faces inquiries from Channel 14 following his report alleging a UAE warning to PM Netanyahu before October 7. Netanyahu denies the claim and orders a defamation lawsuit.
An investigative report published by journalist Shlomi Eldar in Haaretz, alleging that the United Arab Emirates issued a warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 7 massacre, has sparked a fresh political and media controversy. Following the publication, Eldar revealed that journalists from Channel 14 approached him with inquiries regarding his professional associations and potential ties to political figures, in what appeared to be an effort to undermine the credibility and timing of the explosive report.
Inquiries from Channel 14 Journalists
Initially, Channel 14’s Knesset correspondent, Avraham Hasson, messaged Eldar questioning whether he had recently visited the offices of strategic consultant Lior Choreb in Ramat Gan. "What were you doing the day before yesterday at Paz 1 building in Ramat Gan, where Lior Choreb’s offices are located?" Hasson asked, adding, "Is there a connection between your presence there and the story you published last night in Haaretz?"
Eldar categorically denied visiting the location, shared a screenshot of the message on X, and remarked that Channel 14 has its own distinctive ways of responding to major investigative reporting. Hours earlier, Eldar received another inquiry from Yishai Friedman, head of investigations at Channel 14, who asked whether Eldar’s podcast Open File receives funding from the left-wing NGO Darkenu.
Eldar confirmed the funding, explaining that the podcast aims to promote public discourse regarding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. He concluded the exchange by noting that journalists at Channel 14 are similarly compensated for their professional work. The friction between the network and the investigative reporter began immediately following the publication, when Channel 14’s official X account posted a statement dismissing the report and promising a detailed response during the evening broadcast.
Netanyahu Orders Defamation Lawsuit
In response to the publication, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his legal team to prepare a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, Shlomi Eldar, and other involved parties, labeling the report a malicious fabrication.
«This is a malicious fabrication designed to distort the truth and mislead the public.»
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, an exhaustive review of call logs between early September 2023 and October 7 revealed no telephone conversations between Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Furthermore, checks conducted with the National Security Council and the military secretariat yielded no record of such a warning.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that security and Gulf sources assess the original source of the leak may be Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent Fatah figure based in the UAE who serves as an advisor to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Palestinian affairs.
