Bereaved Parents Sue Naftali Bennett for NIS 200,000 Over 'Paid Thugs' Remark
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Herzl and Meirav Hagag, parents of a terror victim, are suing former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for NIS 200,000, alleging his "paid thugs" comment defamed them. Bennett denies the remarks were aimed at bereaved families. The Hagags seek damages, removal of the interview, and a public apology. The lawsuit follows a failed attempt to resolve the matter through a warning letter.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Bereaved parents Herzl and Meirav Hagag are suing former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for NIS 200,000.
- They claim Bennett's "paid thugs" remark defamed them and their daughter, a terror victim.
- Bennett denies his comments were directed at bereaved families.
- The Hagags seek damages, removal of interview content, and a public apology.
- The lawsuit was filed after Bennett's representatives rejected their claims.
Herzl and Meirav Hagag, parents of the late Lieutenant Shir Hagag who was killed in a Jerusalem terror attack, are suing former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for NIS 200,000 (approximately $54,000 USD). The Hagags claim Bennett's remarks referring to "paid thugs" were directed at them and damaged their good name.
Their lawsuit states that their protest stemmed from Bennett's alleged "breach of his most fundamental commitments to his voters, according to which he would establish a national, Zionist, right-wing government." The parents assert that being portrayed as acting on behalf of a political party and for payment harms not only their reputation but also the credibility of their public and social activities over the years.
The lawsuit details the profound damage, stating, "The plaintiffs, Zionist patriots who lost their officer daughter in a terror attack, and who are busy day and night commemorating her name, have suffered great anguish due to the publication in question, through no fault of their own. The plaintiffs' good name was trampled upon when they were falsely presented as 'hired thugs'."
Before filing the lawsuit, the couple sent Bennett a warning letter. However, in a response letter from his representatives, the claims were rejected. The response stated, "Your letter is based on the assumption that the former Prime Minister's words were directed at our clients. This assumption is mistaken and unfounded, and it is clear to everyone that the words spoken were not directed at bereaved families. The former Prime Minister has great love for bereaved families, including the Hagag family, and deep appreciation for their contribution to the country."
Given the rejection of their appeal, the Hagags are asking the court to order Bennett to pay them NIS 200,000 in damages without proof of loss, remove all publications and links to the interview from social media, and issue a public apology in the same format as the original remarks.
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