[60110] Netanyahu in court: "My health condition is excellent, whoever claimed I was ill will be brought to justice"

Netanyahu testified in court in the libel lawsuit he filed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived this morning (May 14, 2026) at the Tel Aviv District Court for a hearing in a half-million shekel defamation lawsuit he filed against journalists Ben Caspit and Uri Misgav, as well as against social activist Adv. Gonen Ben Itzhak. The lawsuit concerns previous publications regarding the Prime Minister's health condition.

During the hearing, which was held before Judge Menachem Mizrahi, Netanyahu categorically denied the allegations that he suffered from a serious illness. According to a report in "Hadashot Me'hashetach on Telegram", which identifies with positions critical of the opposition and supportive of Netanyahu, the PM said: "My health condition is normal, some say excellent. I did not suffer from pancreatic cancer as was reported – if that were the case, I wouldn't be here anymore."

In a report by ynet news, which maintains a neutral reporting line, Netanyahu was quoted declaring that "my health is in the top decile," and added a legal threat toward the defendants: "Whoever claimed I am terminally ill – will be brought to trial." In "Hadashot Bazman" they elaborated that Netanyahu noted that the false publications supposedly began in April 2024.

Towards the end of the hearing, reports surfaced in "Hadashot Bazman" that the Prime Minister was forced to leave the courtroom, and Judge Mizrahi ordered the hearing to be adjourned and ruled: "We will continue at a later date."