Police Officer Sues 30 Over Online Comments, Sparks Free Speech Debate

Sergeant Major Doron Ozari, who was involved in confrontations with protesters during the judicial overhaul demonstrations, has filed defamation lawsuits against 30 civilians for comments made about him online, seeking nearly half a million shekels. Ozari, who served as operations officer at the Sderot police station at the time, was involved in two incidents in July 2023 that drew criticism. In one instance, after issuing a ticket to a protester, a conversation ensued where Ozari allegedly expressed shock and amusement at the protester's hypothetical question about obeying orders to shoot. In another, he was recorded telling a protester, "You've received a warning, one more word and you're arrested." Following these events, Ozari faced online insults such as "scum" and "mentally ill." He subsequently sued those who cursed him or falsely claimed he stated he would shoot protesters, demanding a total of 474,000 shekels. Some of these lawsuits have already been settled, with one resulting in a 43,000 shekel award for Ozari after a defendant failed to prove their claim that Ozari intended to shoot protesters. In a separate case involving seven defendants and an 84,000 shekel claim, the court unusually requested the Association for Civil Rights to provide its opinion on whether the lawsuit constituted a "SLAPP" suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), intended to silence criticism. The Association argued that Ozari's numerous lawsuits raise concerns about using legal proceedings to deter citizens from criticizing the police, emphasizing that free speech protections extend to harsh and provocative statements, especially concerning those in authority. Ozari's attorney, Yoni Giorno, countered that the Association's involvement is a transparent attempt to legitimize online abuse and that courts have repeatedly recognized these comments as severe defamation, not legitimate criticism.