Netanyahu announces planned libel lawsuit over Haaretz report claiming UAE warned of Oct. 7

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated a libel lawsuit against Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar over a report claiming the UAE warned him about the October 7 Hamas attack. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced on Wednesday that the story was "completely fabricated," asserting there was no communication between Netanyahu and the UAE from early September 2023 until the attack. The PMO stated that call logs and entry records to the Prime Minister's Office confirm no Emirati representative entered during that period. The PMO also accused Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi of not informing Netanyahu about signs of the attack hours before it began. Haaretz has stated it stands by its report.