Sara Netanyahu vs Yair Golan: October 7 Controversy

Yair Golan, leader of Israel's Democrats party, issued a sharp response late Monday night to remarks made by Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with Channel 14. Mrs. Netanyahu had suggested that Golan, a reserve major general and former deputy chief of staff, knew about the October 7 massacre before the Prime Minister was informed.

In his late-night statement, Golan directed his criticism at the Prime Minister and Israel's security establishment: "Bibi, Defense Minister Gallant, senior security officials, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of Shin Bet—they tried to wake you up and warn you dozens of times from the moment the government was sworn in, and you didn't wake up."

Golan referenced an April 2023 interview Netanyahu gave to the program "The Patriots," in which the Prime Minister responded to security establishment warnings by saying, "I think there's exaggeration in this." According to Golan, Netanyahu ignored repeated warnings received over many months.

Concluding his statement, Golan promised that Netanyahu would be held accountable for the failures: "Like all those responsible for this failure, you too will be held accountable for this abandonment immediately after we enter the next government. I commit to this!"

The controversy erupted following Sara Netanyahu's Channel 14 interview, in which she challenged Golan: "You claim you were a fighter on October 7, you were already there early in the morning, dressed and ready. At a very early hour, when others didn't know, such as the Prime Minister."

"In general, who is the Prime Minister that he needs to know a war is breaking out, why inform him?" Mrs. Netanyahu added sarcastically. When asked about her view on "betrayal theories" regarding October 7, she responded: "I don't want to talk. I don't know. Let there be a real commission of inquiry."

As background, Golan independently traveled south on the morning of October 7, 2023, to rescue civilians and assist in combat operations. Based on reports he received starting at 6:30 a.m., he put on his military uniform and left his home in his private vehicle around 8:00 a.m. Golan reached various locations in the Gaza border area and worked to rescue young people and partygoers who were hiding in the area of the Nova music festival at Re'im.