Israel to Sue NY Times, Accusing Paper of 'Hideous and Distorted Lies'

As Israel continues fighting wars on the battlefield, another battle is escalating in the media. It is now moving into the courtroom with one of America's most influential newspapers: The New York Times.

Israel's government says it plans to sue the Times. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned an opinion piece by columnist Nicholas Kristoff as "one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press."

Kristoff alleged widespread abuse of Palestinian prisoners, including accusations of sexual violence involving specifically trained dogs. A spokesperson for the Times rejected Israel's accusations, calling the lawsuit "without merit" and "part of a well-worn political playbook."...