Israel PM’s wife shares conspiracy theory about opposition figure

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Sara Netanyahu accused opposition leader Yair Golan of having prior knowledge of the October 7 Hamas attack, intensifying political disputes ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections. The allegation, widely condemned and denied by Golan, highlights deep national divisions as Israelis confront the aftermath of the deadliest assault in the country’s history.

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused a leading opposition figure of having prior knowledge of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, a claim that has fueled political tensions ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.

In an interview broadcast Monday evening on Channel 14, a network known for its proximity to the government, Sara Netanyahu targeted Yair Golan, the former deputy military chief of staff and leader of the center-left Democratic party. She alleged that Golan was “already dressed and ready” at dawn on the day of the attack, suggesting he was aware of the assault before it unfolded—a charge that has been met with sharp condemnation.

Yair Golan responded via a post on X (formerly Twitter), threatening to sue Sara Netanyahu for 2.5 million shekels (approximately $830,000) unless she apologized within 24 hours and provided compensation to be donated to survivors of the Nova music festival. The festival, located in southern Israel, was the site of a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, where at least 270 people lost their lives. Golan emphasized that his actions on that day—rushing to the scene to assist victims—were heroic. He accused Sara Netanyahu of seeking to rewrite history by casting rescuers as traitors and those responsible for national security failures as victims.

The comments have drawn widespread rebuke from across the political spectrum. Golan’s party described the statements as “vile and deceitful,” condemning them as a baseless attempt to smear his reputation. Former Israel Defense Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot, seen as a leading contender to challenge Prime Minister Netanyahu in the upcoming October 27 elections, denounced the accusations as a “mad conspiracy” aimed solely at fomenting division and prolonging Netanyahu’s hold on power.

Benjamin Netanyahu himself has faced intense scrutiny over the Hamas assault, which marked the deadliest day in Israel’s history. The prime minister has deflected direct blame, suggesting that responsibility lies with security officials for not alerting him sooner.

Sara Netanyahu’s remarks mirror a broader pattern of conspiracy theories circulating within segments of Israeli politics. A poll conducted in August indicated that 40 percent of Israelis—and nearly two-thirds of voters supporting the current right-wing coalition—believe that internal betrayal played a role in enabling the October 7 attack.

The controversy underscores the deep political polarization in Israel, especially as the nation prepares for a tightly contested election that will shape the country’s security and political direction in a period of ongoing conflict and national trauma.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.