Court Rules Against Sharing Netanyahu’s Medical Records in Defamation Lawsuit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s medical records will not be shared with the defendants in his ongoing defamation lawsuit, a ruling made by Judge Menachem Mizrahi on Tuesday. The case involves allegations of libel against journalists Ben Caspit, Uri Misgav, and attorney Gonen Ben-Itzhak. Netanyahu’s attorney, Uriel Nizri, had requested that the medical records be submitted for the court’s review only, and Judge Mizrahi upheld this request.

The medical file, which contains 43 documents dated between 2022 and 2025, will remain in the court’s possession, and will not be disclosed to the defendants. Netanyahu had initially delayed submitting the documents but handed them over in a sealed envelope earlier this week, following a reprimand from the court.

The legal battle stems from allegations made by Ben-Itzhak, Misgav, and Caspit regarding Netanyahu’s health. Ben-Itzhak notably claimed that Netanyahu was suffering from pancreatic cancer, while Misgav suggested that the Prime Minister was in poor health. Netanyahu’s defamation lawsuit, filed in May 2024, seeks to address these claims, asserting that the defendants have spread false information about his medical condition.

Judge Mizrahi ruled that the medical records submitted did not contain any evidence relevant to the defamation case at hand. As a result, the court decided that the sensitive information regarding Netanyahu’s health will remain confidential for the time being.

The lawsuit has raised concerns about the intersection of privacy and public office, as Netanyahu’s health has become a topic of public discussion, particularly with the allegations surrounding his medical condition. The court's decision underscores the balance between legal proceedings and the protection of personal medical information.