Court Orders Netanyahu Supporter to Pay $45,000 for Defaming Retired General

A Jerusalem court has ordered Idan Shifoni, an activist and supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu, to pay approximately 168,000 shekels (about $45,000 USD) in damages for defamation and spreading false conspiracy theories related to the October 7th attacks. The majority of this sum, around 140,000 shekels, will go directly to retired Major General Yisrael Ziv, a news commentator for Channel 12.

Shifoni had published a post alleging that Ziv had prior knowledge of the Hamas attack or was involved in treason. The court rejected Shifoni's defense arguments entirely. The ruling was shared on social media by Yair "Yaya" Pink, a politician and candidate for the Knesset with the Democrats party.

Pink criticized Shifoni, calling him "one of the cogs in the poison machine." He also condemned the political and media circles that amplify conspiracy theories surrounding October 7th, stating, "When there is no taking responsibility, they send the poison machine. Soon each one of them will stand trial for the conspiracies they spread. Sunlight is the best disinfectant."