JUST NOW: In a massive development that nobody saw coming, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced he has directed legal advisers to pursue the strongest possible action against the New York Times and columnist Nicholas Kristof over a May 11 op-ed alleging widespread sexual violence by Israeli prison guards, soldiers, settlers, and interrogators against Palestinian detainees.
NETANYAHU: "Today I instructed my legal advisers to consider the harshest legal action against The New York Times and Nicholas Kristof.
They defamed the soldiers of Israel and perpetuated a blood libel about rape, trying to create a false symmetry between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas and Israel’s valiant soldiers.
Under my leadership, Israel will not be silent.
We will fight these lies in the court of public opinion and in the court of law.
Truth will prevail."