The legal and public dispute between the Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, and the chairman of the 'Democrats' party, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yair Golan, remains at the forefront of public discourse. In an interview with Nissim Mishal and Anat Davidov on 103fm radio, Nir Hefetz, a former spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu, offered an analysis of the legal and strategic situation surrounding the couple. Hefetz, who is familiar with the family’s operations from his past roles, assessed that the conflict is unlikely to reach a final resolution without a concession from Mrs. Netanyahu. According to Hefetz, the risk of paying damages out of her personal funds is likely to tilt the scales in favor of a settlement. He noted that, in his estimation, the parties will likely wait until after the elections, at which point the Prime Minister's wife may choose a path of apology in court to avoid significant financial penalties.
The statement comes against the backdrop of a series of mutual legal notices between the parties, centered on exchanges regarding remarks made by Sara Netanyahu on Channel 14 concerning Yair Golan's activities on October 7, and a counter-response from Golan regarding the incident at a hair salon in Tel Aviv. Golan issued a pre-lawsuit notice seeking 2.5 million shekels, while Sara Netanyahu responded with a letter of her own demanding an apology and compensation. Beyond the legal angle, Hefetz criticized the current mindset of the Netanyahu family and the Likud party's strategy. He argued that the persistent focus on these disputes reflects a set of priorities he views as disconnected from the public's immediate needs. Hefetz compared the campaigns he once managed for the Prime Minister to the current effort, arguing that Netanyahu is now in a defensive posture, focused on damage control rather than setting the agenda.
His remarks reflect the political complexity surrounding these claims, as the proceedings intersect with a media and political environment fraught with tension. It should be noted that these are merely the assessments of a former spokesman for Netanyahu and do not indicate future court outcomes or formal legal steps taken by the parties. Defamation proceedings, should they mature into full lawsuits, will be adjudicated according to existing law and the evidence presented by the parties in the appropriate courts. Currently, the matter consists of pre-lawsuit warning letters and responses, which are preliminary stages in the legal struggle between the parties.