Netanyahu Supporter Ordered to Pay Damages in Defamation Case

A Tel Aviv court has ordered Esther Yohay, identified as a supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to pay NIS 40,953 in damages and NIS 10,000 in legal costs to Shaked Bresler. The ruling stems from a defamation lawsuit filed by Bresler over social media posts made by Yohay after the October 7th Hamas attack.

Yohay's posts accused Bresler of prior knowledge of the attack and suggested she agreed to or aided Hamas in carrying out the massacre. One post included an image of Bresler in prisoner attire with the caption "Guilty: Treason against the homeland."

The court found that a significant portion of Yohay's publications constituted defamation, ruling that claims of Bresler's advance knowledge of the attack were unsubstantiated and could expose her to hatred and contempt. However, the court also determined that some of Yohay's statements were expressions of opinion within public discourse.

While Yohay claimed truth as a defense, the court rejected it, stating the allegations of prior knowledge and complicity were not proven. The court also noted that the extent of the publications' reach was not proven and that Yohay appeared to have subjectively believed her claims and acted out of public interest, without proven intent to harm Bresler. Therefore, double damages were not awarded.

The court ordered Yohay to remove the defamatory posts from social media within 14 days. Bresler had initially sought NIS 400,000 in damages.