Court Orders Israeli Activist to Pay $38,000 for Defaming Retired General

The Kfar Saba Magistrate's Court has ordered right-wing activist Ido Shifoni to pay approximately 140,000 shekels (about $38,000) to retired Major General Yisrael Ziv for spreading a conspiracy theory. Shifoni had insinuated on social media that Ziv, a former commander of the Gaza Division, had prior knowledge of the October 7th Hamas attack.

The ruling comes amid a scandal involving similar accusations made by Sara Netanyahu against Yair Golan regarding his actions on October 7th. Shifoni's defamatory post was made in December 2024 on the social media platform X, in response to a post by Ziv detailing his efforts to rescue civilians alongside Yair Golan and retired Major General Noam Tibon on the day of the attack.

In his response, Shifoni posed a "rhetorical question" suggesting Ziv and his colleagues knew the attack's timing in advance. He also linked Ziv to an individual he called a spy. Ziv subsequently filed a lawsuit in January 2025, seeking 328,000 shekels for damage to his reputation, arguing that Shifoni's false and inflammatory publication suggested he had foreknowledge of the attack and that the spy reference constituted further slander.

Shifoni contended that he was merely asking a legitimate question and that the lawsuit aimed to stifle criticism. However, Judge Ronen Peleg ruled that Ziv was entitled to compensation without needing to prove damages, as per the defamation law. The court considered the nature of the publication and its dissemination when determining the award.

In addition to the main compensation, Shifoni must pay Ziv about 8,300 shekels in court fees with interest, and approximately 20,000 shekels plus VAT for legal expenses. He was also ordered to pay 10,000 shekels to the state treasury. All payments are due within 30 days. Ziv's attorney, Tomer Barzik, stated the significant compensation reflects the damage to Ziv's good name as a military figure who acted to save lives on October 7th, and should deter others from spreading fabricated accusations and conspiracy theories.