Chef Tom Aviv Loses Appeal, Must Pay Model Agent 360,000 Shekels

A Tel Aviv District Court has rejected a request by chef Tom Aviv to delay enforcement of a previous ruling, upholding a judgment that requires him to pay model agent Shai Avital 360,000 shekels for defamation. The legal battle began in November 2025 when Avital filed a libel suit following a video Aviv posted on social media containing various accusations against him. In February, a default judgment was issued against Aviv for failing to file a defense on time, ordering him to pay the full claim amount plus legal fees. Later, a Magistrate's Court ruled in August that the judgment could be canceled if Aviv paid 10,000 shekels in expenses by September 24. However, instead of making the payment, Aviv filed a request for leave to appeal on the final day. Avital's legal representative then asked the court to reinstate the original judgment and resume proceedings. Aviv submitted an urgent request to delay enforcement, citing a technical delay in payment due to the Sukkot holiday recess. Judge Yechiel Eliyahu dismissed this request outright, noting it was filed without a proper affidavit and that appellate courts rarely intervene in expense rulings, especially with low chances of appeal. Consequently, the original judgment is fully reinstated: Aviv must pay Avital 360,000 shekels, plus linkage and interest, and 21,977 shekels plus VAT for legal counsel. Enforcement proceedings to collect the sum have also resumed.