Eliahu Yusian Ordered to Pay NIS 5,000 in Libel Suit Loss

The Haifa Magistrate’s Court ruled on Thursday in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dr. Tamar Eilam against Eliahu Yusian, ordering him to pay her NIS 5,000. The decision ends the case at the first-instance level after Eilam had pursued the claim over statements she said harmed her reputation.

After the ruling, Eilam posted a lengthy response saying she would prefer to put the matter behind her and not give unnecessary attention to someone she does not wish well. She said she was publishing the update only after the appeal period expired and after a few days of hesitation.

Eilam gave several reasons for speaking publicly, including that people had been asking her about the outcome both online and in real life, that she continues to receive hints about her character in hate comments, and that some followers who unfollowed after the post at the center of the lawsuit had not returned. She added that she has a 26-minute video of the responses to that post, which she recorded as evidence for court.

She also thanked her lawyer, Hagi Afriati, for what she called brilliant representation and writing, saying he managed to change the court’s firm view “180 degrees” through calm, determined, and logical arguments. Eilam ended by praising Yusian for not appealing the ruling.