New York Times Rejects Israeli Prime Minister's Defamation Threat Over Sexual Assault Allegations
The New York Times has declared a libel threat from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be “without merit”. The threat pertains to an article published by the newspaper detailing alleged sexual assaults against Palestinian detainees by Israeli security services.
Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar issued a statement confirming they had ordered the “initiation of a defamation lawsuit” after the article’s publication. The piece, written by Nicholas Kristof, alleged “a pattern of widespread Israeli sexual violence against men, women and even children” perpetrated by soldiers, settlers, interrogators, and prison guards. The Israeli foreign ministry later claimed Kristof’s reporting was based on “unverified sources tied to Hamas-linked networks”.
In response, The New York Times stated that Netanyahu’s threat, similar to one made previously, is “part of a well-worn political playbook that aims to undermine independent reporting and stifle journalism that does not fit a specific narrative.” The newspaper added, “Any such legal claim would be without merit.”
Kristof’s 3,700-word article, entitled “The Silence that Meets the Rape of Palestinians”, asserted that while there is no evidence of Israeli leaders ordering rapes, the Israeli security apparatus has cultivated an environment where sexual violence has become a “standard operating procedure” and a “major element in the ill treatment of Palestinians,” according to a United Nations report. The reporting was based on conversations with 14 individuals who claimed sexual assault by Israeli settlers or security forces, including descriptions of rape and assault with objects.
Reports from Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental organisations have for years documented sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. In Israel, legal experts suggest that while the state could pursue a case, its success is unlikely due to legal provisions protecting freedom of speech and prohibiting civil actions by collectives in defamation cases. If such a case were heard in Israel, the newspaper would face a stringent burden of proof, requiring demonstration of absolute truth or strict adherence to journalistic standards.
