Court Orders Sara Netanyahu to Pay Damages in Defamation Case
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
A district court rejected Sara Netanyahu's attempt to dismiss a NIS 2.55 million defamation lawsuit filed by Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats. The court ordered Netanyahu to pay Golan NIS 2,000 in legal costs, ruling her claims of prior knowledge of the October 7th attack by Golan were baseless. The lawsuit stems from a Channel 14 interview where Netanyahu made the allegations. Golan stated the ruling proves truth will prevail over lies.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Sara Netanyahu must pay NIS 2,000 in legal costs after her defamation suit dismissal request was denied.
- Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats, filed a NIS 2.55 million defamation lawsuit against Sara Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu implied Golan had prior knowledge of the October 7th attack in a Channel 14 interview.
- The court rejected Netanyahu's claim that she was not responsible for the interview's publication.
- The lawsuit also seeks civil damages for incitement to violence, a novel legal approach.
A district court has rejected Sara Netanyahu's request to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against her by Yair Golan, Chairman of the Democrats and a retired Major General. The court ruled that Netanyahu's claims lacked any basis and ordered her to pay Golan NIS 2,000 in legal expenses.
The lawsuit, for NIS 2.55 million, was filed after Netanyahu refused to apologize or retract statements made in an interview with Channel 14. In the interview, she implied that Golan had prior knowledge of the October 7th Hamas attack. Netanyahu had claimed she was merely giving a "traditional interview" and that responsibility for the publication lay with third parties and media outlets like Channel 14.
The judge dismissed this argument, stating Netanyahu was interviewed with full knowledge and consent for public broadcast. The lawsuit also noted that Netanyahu's advisor viewed the interview before its broadcast, suggesting premeditation. The suit seeks civil damages for violating a criminal statute against incitement to violence, a novel approach.
The judge found Netanyahu's attempt to distance herself from Channel 14's broadcast artificial, stating there is no justification for separating the interviewee's "publication" from the interviewer's and broadcaster's, calling them "two sides of the same coin."
Golan commented that this ruling proves the "poison machine" uses lies and attempts to undermine public trust, adding that those who incite violence and spread false accusations will not escape responsibility. He vowed to continue pursuing legal action to protect "democracy fighters."
