Democrats party chair and Major General (res.) Yair Golan is expected to file a pre-legal action notice for defamation against Sara Netanyahu and Channel 14 in the coming days. The move follows remarks made by the Prime Minister's wife during an interview on Channel 14, in which she raised questions and insinuations regarding Golan's conduct on the morning of October 7.
According to reports from ynet, during the interview, Netanyahu alleged that Golan arrived at the scene of the events fully prepared at a very early hour, contrasting this with the fact that the Prime Minister was not updated on the attack until later. Netanyahu added comments in a cynical tone regarding her husband's knowledge of the outbreak of the war, noting she did not wish to address the "betrayal theory" but called for a different type of inquiry committee.
The case has drawn international attention, with Agence France-Presse (AFP) publishing a special report on the matter. Under a headline criticizing the dissemination of conspiracy theories by the Prime Minister's wife, AFP noted that these comments echo conspiracy-driven claims circulating in political discourse. The report noted that the claims against Golan come weeks before an election that may be decided by a narrow margin.
The legal significance of a pre-lawsuit notice is to provide the defendants a final opportunity to retract their statements, issue an apology, or reach a settlement before the matter reaches court. This is a standard procedure in defamation law aimed at resolving disputes out of court. In future legal proceedings, the parties are expected to address the boundaries of political free speech versus casting aspersions on a public figure's integrity. It should be noted that the allegations have not yet been adjudicated, and involve claims and denials that remain unresolved.
Simultaneously, the incident has stirred responses in the political sphere, with "Yeshar!" chair Gadi Eizenkot condemning the remarks on social media, characterizing them as conspiracy theories devoid of factual basis. Golan has chosen to respond using the legal tools available under the Prohibition of Defamation Law, a step intended to protect his reputation in light of the claims made during the live broadcast.