Netanyahu to Sue Haaretz Over Report Alleging UAE Warning Before October 7 Attacks

Tel Aviv, September 10, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his lawyers to file a defamation lawsuit against the Haaretz newspaper and journalist Shlomi Eldar, following a report claiming he received a warning from the United Arab Emirates ahead of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
The Prime Minister’s Office called the report “completely fabricated,” stating that no contact occurred between Netanyahu and UAE officials during the relevant period, and accused Haaretz of publishing the story as part of a politically motivated campaign ahead of upcoming elections on October 27. The ruling Likud party further alleged the journalist received funding from an organization linked to the opposition.
Opposition leaders — Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan — renewed calls for a state commission of inquiry into the events surrounding October 7, pledging to establish one if they form the next government. Haaretz has said it stands by its reporting.