The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced plans Thursday to file a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The legal action responds to a column by Nicholas Kristof alleging sexual abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The Prime Minister's office labeled the claims as one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered officials to prepare the lawsuit. The government has not yet specified the filing location or the amount of damages sought.
This move follows previous statements by Netanyahu accusing international media of amplifying false claims about Israel's conduct.