Ex-Minister Shalom Simhon Ordered to Pay $5,500 in Defamation Case

Former Israeli Minister Shalom Simhon, currently the chairman of the board for "Doro Italian Products" (makers of "Pasta Rico"), has been ordered by the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court to pay NIS 20,000 (approximately $5,500) in damages and NIS 10,000 (approximately $2,750) in legal costs. The court ruled that Simhon defamed the company's founders, Shi Alon and Gil Ben Dov, in an email he sent to board members.

The dispute arose in January 2024 after the company's CFO resigned less than a month into his tenure. In response, Simhon sent a strongly worded email accusing the founders not only of driving away experienced professionals but also of "intimidating" the company's accountant. This informal email exchange occurred against the backdrop of a heated shareholder conflict between Tnuva, which acquired 51% of Pasta Rico in 2019, and the founders Alon and Ben Dov.

The founders initiated legal proceedings after seeking to exercise an option to sell their remaining 49% stake, accusing Tnuva of deliberately delaying the company's valuation. Simhon was appointed chairman by Tnuva in 2023 to manage the tense situation.

The former CFO testified in court that his resignation was not due to threats from Alon or Ben Dov, but rather to organizational infighting and power struggles between Tnuva and the founders. Judge Nurit Taviv Mizrahi determined that Simhon's accusations exceeded permissible limits, though she noted the statements were at the lower end of defamation severity due to the intense conflict.