Israel Sues New York Times Over Sexual Abuse Allegations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have announced plans to sue The New York Times for defamation following the publication of an essay detailing allegations of sexual abuse and rape of Palestinians in Israeli military detention. Israel’s foreign ministry characterized the essay by Nicholas Kristof as a “hideous and distorted lie” and a “blood libel” perpetuated against the nation’s soldiers. While The New York Times has defended Kristof’s reporting, citing extensive fact-checking and corroboration, legal experts express doubt about the viability of such a lawsuit, particularly in U.S. courts which are generally protected by the First Amendment against government-initiated defamation claims. This marks not the first instance of Israeli officials threatening legal action against the Times over its coverage.
John Q. Hosedrinker