Sara Netanyahu rejects apology demand from Jerusalem protest-fire defendant, seeks NIS 5m.

The defendant is accused of pouring flammable liquid into a recycling bin, adding fuel-soaked material, and setting it alight.

Sara Netanyahu demanded NIS 5 million from a defendant accused of setting a fire near the prime minister’s Jerusalem home, after he accused her of defamation for saying those responsible intended to kill her family.

Eyal Giler is one of four defendants charged over fires set during a September 3, 2025 protest calling for the release of the hostages. Prosecutors allege that the defendants planned fires at six locations near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem’s Rehavia neighborhood.

Five recycling bins were ultimately set alight. The fires allegedly damaged vegetation and other property, nearly destroyed a vehicle and endangered residents of a nearby building, who were evacuated.

Prosecutors described the plan in the indictment as creating a “ring of fire.” They did not, however, allege that the defendants intended to kill Netanyahu or members of his family.

That distinction is at the center of the dispute between Giler and Sara Netanyahu.

In an August 31 interview with Channel 14, Netanyahu described the incident as “a circle of fire around our house.”

“So everyone would perhaps choke and die,” she said. “The intention was really to kill.”

Giler demanded Netanyahu withdraw remarks, apologize

Giler subsequently sent Netanyahu a pre-suit warning demanding that she withdraw the remarks, apologize and pay him NIS 100,000. His lawyers threatened to file a defamation suit seeking at least NIS 1 million if she refused.

Netanyahu rejected those demands Thursday and issued a counter-demand through her attorney, Uriel Nizri.

Nizri denied that her remarks were defamatory and accused Giler of attempting to turn “the victim into the accuser.” He argued that Netanyahu had expressed her understanding of the incident and described the danger she felt to herself and her family.

Netanyahu would not apologize, withdraw her remarks or pay Giler “a single shekel,” Nizri said. He argued that Giler’s warning letter itself gave her grounds for a defamation claim and demanded NIS 5 million on her behalf.

Nizri said no lawsuit would be filed if Giler paid that amount. He also said Netanyahu intended to bring a civil claim based on the criminal proceedings if Giler is convicted.

Suspect charged with lighting recycling bin ablaze

Giler is specifically accused of pouring flammable liquid into a recycling bin, adding fuel-soaked material and setting it alight. The resulting fire allegedly damaged a stone wall and a canopy.

The indictment charges the defendants with offenses including arson, malicious damage to property, damage to a vehicle and obstruction of justice.

The exchange is the third publicly reported legal dispute arising from Netanyahu’s Channel 14 interview. Democrats chairman Yair Golan and Amir Sadeh, a defendant in the separate flare-firing case, previously challenged other remarks made during the broadcast.