Israeli PM's wife Sara Netanyahu sued for $1.2m over October 7 conspiracy theory

The lawsuit, filed by Golan for 2.55 million Israeli shekels (about $1.17 million), stems from an interview Sara Netanyahu gave to Israel's Channel 14 last week. In the interview, she questioned how Golan had managed to arrive at the scene of the attacks so quickly, suggesting he had some form of inside knowledge.

"When you're a military officer of such a high rank, claiming you were a combatant on … October 7th, you were already there from early in the morning, dressed and ready," she said. "And at a very, very early hour, that others didn't even know about [the attacks]. Even the prime minister — shouldn't he know a war was breaking out?"

Golan reacted angrily, accusing the Netanyahu family of spreading conspiracy theories. "Paranoia, it turns out, is a family business," he said in a social media video. "Netanyahu never stops lying and covering up. The tighter the political noose tightens around his neck, the more dangerous he becomes."

Golan said he filed the suit after Sara Netanyahu refused to retract her remarks. The incident comes amid accusations from Netanyahu supporters that senior defence and security officials deliberately kept the prime minister in the dark about the October 7 attacks — a narrative often referred to in Israeli media as the "betrayal theory." Netanyahu himself has repeated similar claims, arguing he would have responded differently had he been woken earlier.

An independent inquiry into the security failures that allowed the Hamas attacks has been repeatedly rejected by the prime minister. His opponents have promised to launch one if they win the upcoming election, scheduled for October 27.

Why This Matters

The lawsuit injects a bitter personal element into an already polarized Israeli election campaign, with Golan positioning himself as a critic of Netanyahu's handling of the October 7 attacks.
Allegations of a "deep state" conspiracy, advanced by Netanyahu and his supporters, risk undermining trust in Israel's defence establishment and institutional accountability.
The defamation claim could shape public perceptions of both Sara Netanyahu and Yair Golan, potentially influencing undecided voters in the October 27 election.

Background

The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel killed more than 1,200 people and sparked a devastating war in Gaza. In the immediate aftermath, Yair Golan raced to southern Israel to assist, earning praise for his actions at the Nova music festival massacre. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced sustained criticism for the security failures that enabled the attack, and has resisted calls for an independent investigation, instead suggesting he was kept uninformed by the defence establishment — a claim echoed by his wife's recent interview.

Key Perspectives

Sara Netanyahu: Her Channel 14 interview questioned how Golan arrived so quickly, implying foreknowledge. She has not publicly retracted the remarks. Yair Golan: He sees the comments as a smear aimed at diverting attention from failures in leadership. By filing a defamation suit he is trying to force a retraction and defend his reputation. Critics of Netanyahu: They view the Netanyahus' claims as a deliberate distraction from the prime minister's own responsibility for the October 7 failures, and note the lack of an independent inquiry.

What to Watch

Whether the defamation case proceeds to trial before the October 27 election, and how it affects campaign dynamics.
The outcome of the election itself: if Golan's party gains seats, the pressure for an independent inquiry may increase.
Further statements from the Netanyahu family or their supporters that might escalate the feud or widen the conspiracy narrative.

ZOTPAPER