Ben-Gvir Sues Gadi Eisenkot for Defamation Over Podcast Remarks
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has filed a NIS 100,000 defamation lawsuit against Knesset Member Gadi Eisenkot and his party, "Yisrael Im Eisenkot." The lawsuit, submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, stems from statements Eisenkot made on the "How to Do Things" podcast, produced by Kan 11.
Ben-Gvir alleges that Eisenkot's remarks falsely attributed severe messages and actions to him. During an interview published on July 28 and 31, 2026, Eisenkot discussed violent online discourse and politicians who exploit it. He referenced TikTok videos targeting youth, containing messages like "The only way is to kill" and "A good Arab is a dead Arab," alongside discussions of force and bullying. Eisenkot then stated, "And when I look at the phenomenon called Itamar Ben-Gvir," which Ben-Gvir's suit claims directly links him to these violent messages.
The lawsuit asserts that Eisenkot implicitly or explicitly accused Ben-Gvir of distributing violent videos, promoting killing, uttering "A good Arab is a dead Arab," and encouraging bullying and violence. Ben-Gvir contends these are false factual assertions, not opinions, and that he has never promoted such messages or encouraged violence. He argues that attributing these statements to him, as National Security Minister and party leader, damages his reputation and public standing.
The suit notes the interview's wide reach, with over 10,698 views on Kan 11's YouTube channel and 1,445,337 views on the "Yisrael Im Eisenkot" party's YouTube channel as of September 3, 2026. Ben-Gvir's legal team had previously demanded the removal and retraction of the statements, but the defendants refused on August 27, 2026.
Ben-Gvir seeks NIS 100,000 in damages without proof of loss, removal of the offending segment from all controlled platforms, and a prominent public correction and retraction. The lawsuit also includes a demand for legal costs and attorney fees. Eisenkot and his party have 60 days to file a defense.
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