Challenged the characterization
“This is a sinister libel with clear political timing.”
Netanyahu personally renewed the denial and characterized the report as election-timed political libel.
- Speaker
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Capacity
- Prime minister of Israel and Likud leader
- Observed
- September 9, 2026
- Published here
- September 9, 2026
- Targets
- Haaretz
- Classification rationale
- He disputes the report’s truth and provenance. The statement is not coded as a defense of his alleged conduct because he denies the underlying event.
Surrounding material
Full context
Before the quotation
The Prime Minister’s Office had already issued a categorical denial on September 8.
After the quotation
Netanyahu said he had instructed lawyers to pursue a libel case and redirected responsibility toward security chiefs who did not alert him hours before the attack.
Evidence
Complete source record
Netanyahu announces planned libel lawsuit over Haaretz report claiming UAE warned of Oct. 7 (opens in a new tab)Full report and quoted Prime Minister’s Office statement
Reports Netanyahu’s renewed denial, claimed review of call and visitor records, planned libel action, blame directed toward security chiefs, and Haaretz’s statement that it stands by its report.