Netanyahu to Sue Haaretz Over Claims of Pre-October 7 UAE Warning

Netanyahu to sue Haaretz over claims UAE warned him before October 7 attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday his intention to sue Haaretz newspaper over a report alleging he received an advance warning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about a Hamas offensive before the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Netanyahu characterized the report as "fabricated" and "false" in a statement posted on X. He confirmed he had instructed his legal team to initiate proceedings against Haaretz and its authors, Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yaval.

The report, published on Tuesday, claimed UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) warned Netanyahu of a potential Hamas attack 10 days prior to October 7.

According to Haaretz, the then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar relayed warnings to the UAE through an intermediary. Sinwar, angered by stalled prisoner exchange talks and Israel's continued blockade of Gaza, reportedly stated he was preparing a "huge surprise" and told contacts to inform Israel "to expect an earthquake."

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian fighters killed at least 1,195 people in southern Israel and took approximately 251 others captive. The attacks precipitated Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 73,669 Palestinians.

Haaretz alleged that MBZ and his aides interpreted Sinwar's message as an imminent full-scale attack. They reportedly passed this intelligence to Israel's Shin Bet agency, which then dismissed the threat.

The report further claimed that MBZ subsequently raised the warning directly with Netanyahu, who also reportedly "brushed it aside."

Netanyahu, however, denied the existence of any such phone call with MBZ. He stated that the National Security Council and the Military Secretary meticulously reviewed his call logs for those days and "found no trace of it whatsoever."

The UAE has refrained from commenting directly on the allegations. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday affirming that "the UAE government does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders."

The Israeli Prime Minister also contended that the Haaretz report was "politically motivated" and part of the "left's election campaign."

He additionally claimed that Palestinian political figure Muhammad Dahlan was responsible for the "false report." Dahlan, who was expelled from the Fatah party in 2011 after a power struggle with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, currently resides in the UAE.

Representatives for Dahlan have rejected Netanyahu's accusation, according to reports in Israeli media.

The Haaretz report emerges amidst a challenging political climate for Netanyahu, as he endeavors to maintain his position in the upcoming Knesset elections in October. Recent polls indicate he is trailing former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Source: Synthesized from reporting by yahoo.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spain's Spy Agency Issued Warnings Before Ceuta Migrant Influx, Declassified Files Show

Declassified government documents released Wednesday reveal that Spain's national intelligence agency (CNI) issued multiple warnings about a potential mass crossing of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco in late July, before a major influx occurred. The revelations appear to contradict previous statements by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez regarding the extent of prior warning the government received. The collection of 40 documents, which includes alerts, intelligence reports, and communications from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, detailed intelligence activity ahead of the surge. On July 29, the day before over 72,000 people began pouring into Ceuta, the CNI sent a WhatsApp alert to the Spanish government's delegation in Ceuta. This alert referenced calls on social media "for an assault on the fence and by sea tomorrow at 8 p.m." The message added, "There are two different groups with a total of 180,000 followers,...
Read more

Search Resumes for Missing Boat with Eight Near Indonesia's Anak Krakatau Volcano

Search and rescue efforts resumed Wednesday for a boat carrying eight people, including five journalists, that went missing near Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano. The vessel lost contact shortly after departing on Monday, according to local media reports. The five journalists are Indonesian citizens and represent local and international media outlets, including the state news agency Antara and the Turkish state-run agency Anadolu. They were in the area to cover the volcano's recent eruption. A search operation initiated on Tuesday was temporarily suspended due to large waves and hazardous conditions. Authorities have not yet provided a clear explanation for the boat's disappearance. The National Search and Rescue Agency is leading the ongoing efforts. The eruption of Anak Krakatau has significantly disrupted air travel in the region. Tens of thousands of people have been stranded on the islands of Java and Sumatra since the weekend, and multiple airports have closed due...
Read more

Mexico Projects Up To 2.5% Economic Growth, Smaller Deficit in 2027 Budget Draft

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's finance ministry forecasts economic growth between 1.5% and 2.5% in 2027. The broader public sector deficit is projected to narrow to 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) that year, according to a draft budget proposal submitted to Congress on Tuesday. The budget document indicates a 2026 growth estimate of 1.0% to 2.0%. This is a decrease from an earlier projection of 1.8% to 2.8%. The projected 2027 public sector deficit of 3.9% of GDP compares to 4.1% estimated for 2026. Factors driving the 2027 economic outlook include strong domestic demand, higher household incomes, and less restrictive financial conditions. Investment linked to infrastructure projects and tax incentives under the "Plan Mexico" initiative are also expected to contribute. Additionally, export growth supported by North American trade integration is anticipated to provide further support. Total public debt, measured by the Historical Balance of Public Sector Borrowing Requi...
Read more