Israel says it will sue New York Times over article on sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have threatened to sue the New York Times for defamation over an essay by Nicholas Kristof alleging sexual abuse of Palestinians in Israeli military detention.
- The Israeli government condemned the article as a "blood libel" and accused the Times of defaming Israeli soldiers, while the Times has defended Kristof’s reporting, citing extensive fact-checking and corroboration.
- Legal experts expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such a lawsuit, noting that U.S. courts are unlikely to entertain defamation claims brought by governments against the press due to First Amendment protections.
- Kristof's piece, published in the Times’ opinion section, included interviews with alleged victims and detailed allegations of sexual abuse by Israeli personnel, though it clarified there was no evidence that Israeli leaders ordered such acts.
- The controversy follows previous tensions between Israel and the Times, with Netanyahu previously threatening legal action over coverage of Gaza, but no lawsuits have been filed to date.