Court Orders Right-Wing Activist to Pay Major General (Ret.) Israel Ziv NIS 140,000 for Conspiracy Claims

A Magistrate's Court in Kfar Saba ruled on Thursday that right-wing activist Ido Shiponi must pay approximately NIS 140,000 in damages to Major General (Ret.) Israel Ziv. The ruling stems from a defamation lawsuit filed by Ziv after Shiponi posted on X in December 2024, implying Ziv and others knew about the timing of the October 7th Hamas attack in advance.

Ziv's lawsuit was prompted by Shiponi's response to a post by Ziv himself. In his original post, Ziv described rushing south with other senior officers, including Yair Golan and Noam Tibon, to help save civilians on October 7th, contrasting this with those who allegedly hid. Shiponi responded with what he termed a "rhetorical question," suggesting Ziv had prior knowledge and linking him to a spy.

Ziv, represented by attorney Tomer Barzik, sued for NIS 328,000, arguing the post was a false and inciting publication suggesting he had foreknowledge of the attack and that the spy comparison constituted further slander. Shiponi contended it was a legitimate question and the lawsuit was an attempt to "silence criticism."

Judge Ronen Peleg ruled that Ziv was entitled to compensation without proof of damage under Section 7a of the Defamation Law, considering the circumstances and relevant parameters. In addition to the main award, Shiponi was ordered to reimburse Ziv for court fees (approximately NIS 8,300 plus interest) and legal representation costs (approximately NIS 20,000 plus VAT). Unusually, Shiponi must also pay NIS 10,000 in separate expenses to the state treasury. All payments are due within 30 days.

Attorney Barzik stated he was pleased with the significant compensation awarded to his client for a "falsehood that harmed his good name as a brave fighter and one who rushed to save lives on October 7th." He added, "It's time people's hands tremble on the keyboard when they invent falsehoods and conspiracies about other people."