Bereaved Parents Sue Former PM Bennett for Defamation

Herzl and Meirav Hagag, parents of the late Lieutenant Shir Hagag who was killed in a 2017 terror attack, have filed a NIS 200,000 defamation lawsuit against former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The lawsuit, submitted to the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court, alleges that Bennett falsely presented them as paid political activists who disrupted his speeches during Memorial Day ceremonies.

The core of the lawsuit stems from a Channel 13 interview where Bennett claimed the Likud party hired paid activists to disrupt his speeches while he was prime minister. When asked if he was certain these individuals were paid, Bennett stated, "One hundred percent. One hundred percent. Likud, here, I'm saying it, please, want to sue me? Sue me."

The Hagags contend that Bennett's remarks were directed at them, as their protest against him at Memorial Day ceremonies received significant media coverage, making their identities public. They assert that these accusations are false and baseless, emphasizing they have never received payment from the Likud party or any other political entity for their participation in protests. According to the parents, their protest was a personal initiative driven by a sense of betrayal over Bennett's election promises and opposition to his political cooperation with the Ra'am party.

They further claim that portraying them as acting on behalf of a party for payment damages their good name and the credibility of their public activism, which they state stems from personal conviction and their pain as bereaved parents. The Hagags, who are prominent figures in the "Choosing Life" bereaved families forum and advocate against ties with terror organizations, are seeking NIS 200,000 in damages without proof of harm, removal of the relevant publications from social media, and a public apology from Bennett in the same format as the original remarks.