Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party issued a sharp response following controversy over a Haaretz newspaper report, claiming that Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan orchestrated the allegedly false story. The party also accused a left-wing organization of funding the publication.
"The real scandal revealed in recent days is blatant foreign interference in Israel's elections," Likud stated. According to the party, "It has become clear that behind the false report in Haaretz stands Palestinian senior official Mohammed Dahlan, who is based in the Emirates."
The party went on to attack Dahlan's motives: "Dahlan formed a joint list with Hamas for Palestinian Authority elections. He wants to topple the right-wing government led by Netanyahu because he dreams of taking control of the Gaza Strip. For this, he needs a weak left-wing government of Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Liberman and the Arab parties. Such a government would withdraw from Gaza and transfer it to his control."
Likud further claimed the Haaretz publication appeared after payment was received "from a left-wing organization connected to Yair Golan's 'Democrats' party, to spread his false libel." The party also noted that "approximately two months ago, Yair Golan and Ronen Bar secretly visited the United Arab Emirates. Is this secret visit connected to the false publication in Haaretz? Likud demands opening a criminal investigation against Shlomi Eldar, Ruth Yuval, Haaretz newspaper, Yair Golan and the 'Democrats' party, on suspicion of attempting to disrupt elections with foreign elements."
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu announced he had instructed his attorneys to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, journalist Shlomi Eldar and other parties, following the claim that the UAE president had warned him before the October 7 attack.
In a statement titled "Lies Made by Haaretz," Netanyahu rejected the claim and said a review conducted by his office found no documentation of such a conversation. "Contrary to what was claimed, from the beginning of September until October 7, no conversation took place between the Prime Minister and the President of the United Arab Emirates," the statement said.
According to the announcement, the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Ministry and the Military Secretary checked Netanyahu's call log for the period in question and found no record of such a call. The statement further claimed that policy conversations between Netanyahu and the UAE president are conducted through an Emirati representative who arrives at the office with a special encrypted device, and that the calls are documented.
Netanyahu's office also addressed Eldar's comments in an interview with Channel 12, in which he said the alleged warning call was conducted in this manner. However, according to the Prime Minister's statement, a review of entry records to the office found no entry by an Emirati representative during the relevant period.
"There is no possibility of entering the Prime Minister's Office without documentation and registration by security personnel at the facility," the statement read.
Netanyahu also attacked another claim attributed to Eldar, that Egypt had warned him of a possible attack, calling it a claim that was already debunked at the start of the war.
Later in the statement, Netanyahu sharply criticized the publication, calling it "a malicious libel with clear political timing." He said it was part of "the left's election campaign."
In conclusion, Netanyahu addressed the handling that preceded the October 7 attack and placed responsibility on former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. According to him, the two saw indicative signs hours before the attack but did not update him in time. He said that had they instructed the IDF, Shin Bet and standby squads to prepare in advance, "the terrible massacre could have been prevented."
Haaretz responded: "We stand behind the publication."
