The government of Israel confirmed that it will take legal action against The New York Times following the publication of an opinion column by journalist Nicholas Kristof that included serious allegations of sexual abuse allegedly committed by Israeli soldiers against detained Palestinians.
The decision was officially announced by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, which described the article as “one of the most horrific and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel.” According to the statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered the preparation of a defamation lawsuit against the American media outlet.
Netanyahu publicly reacted on his social media and accused the newspaper of defaming the Israel Defense Forces while equating Israeli military personnel with Hamas terrorists.
“They defamed the soldiers of Israel and perpetuated a slander of rape, trying to create a false symmetry between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas and the brave soldiers of Israel,” wrote the Israeli leader.
Israel accuses The New York Times of amplifying anti-Israel propaganda
From the Israeli government's environment, they argue that such publications fuel international disinformation campaigns and ultimately legitimize narratives pushed by organizations linked to Islamist terrorism.
The questioned article was written by Nicholas Kristof and published by The New York Times as an opinion column. It compiles testimonies from Palestinians who reported alleged sexual abuses in Israeli prisons, including extremely serious and difficult-to-verify accusations.
The Israeli government believes that the text crossed the line between political opinion and a defamatory accusation without conclusive evidence. So far, it has not been confirmed in which country the lawsuit will be filed or what amounts will be claimed.
