Israeli Media Figure Haim Levinson Appeals Defamation Ruling, Seeks Public Donations to Fund Legal Battle

Haim Levinson, an Israeli media personality, has announced his intention to appeal a Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court ruling that ordered him to pay 30,000 shekels to Channel 14 for defamation. The court found that a tweet Levinson posted in 2021, shortly after the formation of the Bennett-Lapid government, crossed the line of legitimate criticism and damaged the reputation of Channel 14's operator, "Jewish Israeli Channel Ltd." Judge Aryeh Biton ruled that Levinson must pay 10,000 shekels in compensation and 20,000 shekels for legal expenses and attorney fees.

Following the verdict, Levinson sharply criticized the decision, describing it as an infringement on freedom of expression and stated his plan to continue the fight at the District Court level. He characterized his tweet as satirical commentary protected by free speech, disputing the court's judgment. Levinson also revealed that the legal process has already imposed significant financial burdens on him, noting he is not a wealthy oligarch and that the costs are becoming heavy.

To help cover the expenses of the ongoing legal proceedings, Levinson appealed to his followers for financial support, providing his phone number for donations via the Bit payment system. According to the ruling, Levinson has 60 days to file his appeal with the District Court.