Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated under oath on Thursday that his health remains "proper" and "excellent," while testifying in a defamation lawsuit he initiated against lawyer Gonen Ben Itzhak and reporters Uri Misgav and Ben Caspit. The case centers on their reports questioning his physical fitness and medical status.

The proceedings, originally set for Ramle Magistrate's Court under Judge Menahem Mizrahi, were relocated to the Tel Aviv District Court for security purposes. Netanyahu's testimony lasted only around 30 minutes before he departed for an official event. The judge permitted his exit and scheduled a future session to resume.

"My medical condition is proper, and some say excellent," Netanyahu affirmed. "I did not suffer from pancreatic cancer. If that were the case, I would no longer be here."

He emphasized his regular exercise routine, routine checkups, and entirely normal vital signs.

Netanyahu claims pacemaker has never been used

Netanyahu disclosed a long-standing issue with an enlarged prostate, which remained benign even post-surgery to shrink it. Late in 2025, further testing revealed an initial cancerous development in the prostate.

"It was eight millimeters," he noted, explaining that physicians described it as typical for men of his age, offering options to monitor or treat it.

In January and February, he completed five radiation sessions, followed by tests confirming complete removal of the lesion with no spread. He mentioned this was disclosed publicly just last month.

Regarding his pacemaker, Netanyahu clarified it has remained inactive due to his robust health.

The NIS 500,000 lawsuit targets statements from May 2024. Ben Itzhak posted on X (formerly Twitter) claiming, after media reports and Netanyahu's visit to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem, that he learned of pancreatic cancer treatment. Misgav shared content scrutinizing Netanyahu's looks, speech, and health. Caspit reported on a supposed encounter between Netanyahu and reserve Maj.-Gen. Amiram Levin, where Levin allegedly departed alarmed, deeming the prime minister unfit and a risk to Israel.

Netanyahu rejects any pancreatic cancer diagnosis, labeling the claims untrue and libelous.

During questioning by Ben Itzhak's lawyer, Roni Kashles, Netanyahu was pressed on why he pursued litigation instead of a simple public rebuttal two years prior.

"There was malice here," he replied.

Inquired about prior efforts to counter the allegations beyond the suit, Netanyahu cited a published denial.

"I did not see any denial," Kashles countered.

"A lawsuit is the best denial," Netanyahu retorted.

Netanyahu rejects claims of using Shin Bet against Ben Itzhak

Netanyahu refuted allegations that he directed the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to target Ben Itzhak. He also denied knowledge of Ben Itzhak's outreach to Shlomit Barnea Farago, then legal advisor in the Prime Minister's Office, about his health.

He insisted the key details were in the medical records provided to the court. Kashles contended the submission was selectively curated.

"No," Netanyahu responded. "What the medical team deemed suitable to share about my extensive treatments. The main ones were announced publicly."

Kashles referenced an interview Netanyahu's doctor, Dr. Zvi Berkovich, gave to Misgav, where Berkovich avoided denying involvement of cancer experts, including those specializing in pancreatic cases, in Netanyahu's hernia surgery.

"There is no chance that I had pancreatic cancer and they did not tell me," Netanyahu asserted.

This session followed Mizrahi's recent order for Netanyahu to deliver his latest medical records in a sealed envelope for judicial review alone, focusing on the prostate cancer diagnosis timeline.

Mizrahi highlighted the diagnosis date as pivotal, noting a April 20 public report confirmed incidental early-stage discovery via extra tests, though the report omitted when those tests occurred.

The defendants maintain their statements do not amount to defamation.

Ben Itzhak contends he spoke out after the Prime Minister's Office ignored his health inquiries amid swirling rumors. Misgav argues it's legitimate to probe an elected leader's fitness and accuses Netanyahu of muzzling critics. Caspit insists he covered Levin's perspective, not Netanyahu's health directly, and views the suit as an effort to suppress prime ministerial critique.