Benjamin Netanyahu initiates defamation proceedings against Haaretz over reports of advance warning from the United Arab Emirates

Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed lawyers to begin defamation proceedings against the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The legal action follows reports that the leader of the United Arab Emirates warned him of a planned Hamas operation just days before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Netanyahu's office stated that no warning was provided by the UAE before the attacks, describing the report as a "sinister plot." Haaretz maintained its reporting, citing three foreign senior sources and a Palestinian adviser to the UAE president. The newspaper reported that during a confidential phone call in September 2023, the UAE leader informed Netanyahu of a major operation described as an "earthquake." Netanyahu reportedly reacted with relative calm, believing Hamas intended to operate in the West Bank. The report comes as Israel prepares for a general election. Netanyahu's Likud party accused the newspaper of foreign interference. Four opposition leaders issued a joint statement demanding an investigation into the events, stating that Netanyahu and his partners are unfit to continue in office.

Sources

• AP News
  UAE warned Netanyahu of major Hamas operation days before Oct. 7 attack, news report says
• Al Jazeera
  Benjamin Netanyahu has overseen a genocide: In his telling, he’s a victim

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• The New York Times
  Netanyahu’s Rivals Call Him ‘Unfit’ After Report He Was Warned Before Oct. 7 Attack
• The Times of Israel
  Arab warnings to Netanyahu ahead of Oct. 7 massacre shatter his core political defense
• The Times of Israel
  Gallant pans Netanyahu’s ‘atmosphere of defeatism’ in days after Oct. 7 massacre