Israeli PM takes legal action against newspaper over UAE warning report
Netanyahu has announced he will sue Haaretz for publishing a report alleging that the UAE president warned him of an impending Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. He called the report fabricated and false. The report claimed that Mohammed bin Zayed passed intelligence to Israel's Shin Bet, which dismissed it.
The disputed report, published Tuesday, alleges that the UAE president relayed intelligence from the then-Hamas leader, who was frustrated by stalled negotiations and the blockade, and had threatened a major surprise and a seismic event. The intelligence was reportedly passed to Israel's internal security agency, which dismissed it, before the UAE leader directly raised it with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu's legal action comes as he trails former military chief Gadi Eisenkot in polls ahead of October elections. He has blamed the story on exiled Fatah figure Muhammad Dahlan, whose representatives have rejected the accusation. The UAE has declined to comment on the allegations.
This legal challenge could intensify public scrutiny of Netanyahu's handling of pre-war intelligence, potentially influencing undecided voters in the upcoming election. It may also test the boundaries of press freedom in Israel, as a sitting prime minister sues a major newspaper over a sensitive national security claim. Additionally, the dispute could strain regional perceptions, as the UAE's silence leaves room for speculation about the reliability of intelligence-sharing partnerships.