Efi Naveh Sues 12, Including Ronen Tzur, for NIS 10 Million

Former Israel Bar Association head Efi Naveh has filed a NIS 10 million lawsuit against 12 defendants, alleging their involvement in an extensive public campaign against him. The suit, submitted Tuesday to the Central District Court, includes claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, tort, and unjust enrichment. Naveh is also seeking a permanent injunction to halt further defamatory publications.

Central to the lawsuit are businessman Alex Sklar and strategist/campaign manager Ronen Tzur. Naveh alleges Sklar initiated the campaign and Tzur managed its strategy and creative aspects, describing Tzur as the one who "set the strategic direction, formulated the slanderous messages, and led how they were presented and distributed to the public." The suit details a campaign that allegedly spanned large public spaces, including billboards on Highway 1, near the Carmel Tunnels, at the Geha Junction, and advertisements on buses nationwide.

According to the lawsuit, Naveh claims Sklar was behind the campaign, which he believes was motivated by Naveh's brother, Zvika Naveh, who is involved in legal proceedings with Sklar. Efi Naveh emphasizes he is not a party to these proceedings. The campaign allegedly included comparing Naveh and his brother to Hamas terrorists and included severe statements attributed to Sklar regarding his conduct towards women and children.

Naveh asserts the defendants were paid for their participation, citing Sklar's statement that the campaign budget was $10 million and that he provided indemnity letters to advertising companies against potential lawsuits. Naveh describes Tzur's role as providing "defamation distribution services for the wealthy, for payment."

The lawsuit was partly prompted by an investigative report aired on Kan 11 approximately two months ago, which exposed businessman Alex Sklar's network, identifying Ronen Tzur and private investigator Irad Tamir as allegedly behind the campaign.