After a year of a public legal battle, the defamation suit filed by Yamina and now Yachad leader Naftali Bennett against TOV ended on Tuesday in a settlement approved by the court. The case was based on Bennett’s 250,000-shekel claim over false reports aired by the channel.
At the center of the dispute were allegations that 50 million shekels had been spent on the protected shelter at Bennett’s home, claims Bennett denied and called false. Under the agreement, TOV and Adam Attias withdrew those allegations and the settlement took legal effect as a court judgment.
The deal also included a public-interest element, with each side agreeing to donate 10,000 shekels to a nonprofit in memory of Lt. Col. Emmanuel Moreno. The article says the choice was meant to give the settlement a public meaning and honor Moreno, who fell in combat.
Even after the court deal, the two sides presented different interpretations of what it meant. TOV said, “Bennett backed down, did not receive an apology, and paid. According to the wording agreed in court, Tov will not apologize for the publication.” Bennett’s original lawsuit argued that media outlets must meet strict journalistic standards and warned that wealthy actors can take over media outlets to amplify influence. The settlement comes as Bennett campaigns under difficult conditions, with his Yachad party facing falling polls and internal tensions.
