Israeli prime minister's wife faces libel claim over Oct. 7 accusations

During a Channel 14 interview, Sara Netanyahu asserted that Yair Golan, the Democratic leader in the Knesset and ex-deputy chief of staff of the IDF, had prior knowledge of the Oct. 7 assaults and chose not to act, portraying him as overly prepared. Golan, credited with driving to the Nova music festival and saving lives, rejected the claim and announced plans to file a libel lawsuit, demanding an apology and a voluntary payment to be donated to Nova survivors within a day.

He warned that the accusation attempts to rewrite history, turning heroes into traitors, and called for a state commission to uncover the truth. The controversy follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated statements that intelligence failures, not treason, caused the tragedy. The episode reflects deep political divisions and public skepticism, with polls showing a sizable share of Israelis suspecting internal wrongdoing. Sara Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, has also voiced criticism of the IDF’s handling of investigations, further inflaming the debate.