Journalist Raveev Drucker Wins Final Victory in Defamation Lawsuit
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Journalist Raveev Drucker has won a final victory in a five-year defamation lawsuit against commentators Yaakov Bardugo, Noam Palti, and Yotam Zimri, who will pay him 285,000 shekels in damages and costs. The defendants had falsely accused Drucker of criminal extortion against then-Defense Minister Beni Gantz. The case stemmed from Drucker's reporting on potentially embarrassing recordings of Gantz, which the defendants allegedly misrepresented as threats. The ruling also criticized then-MK Yoav Kisch for his role in the affair.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Raveev Drucker awarded 285,000 shekels in defamation suit against Bardugo, Palti, and Zimri.
- Defendants falsely accused Drucker of criminal extortion against then-Defense Minister Beni Gantz.
- The lawsuit originated from Drucker's reporting on embarrassing recordings of Beni Gantz.
- Then-MK Yoav Kisch also accused of defamation but evaded lawsuit due to parliamentary immunity.
- The District Court rejected defendants' appeal and partially accepted Drucker's cross-appeal.
News 13 journalist Raveev Drucker has secured a final win in a five-year defamation lawsuit against Galei Tzahal commentator Yaakov Bardugo, hosts Noam Palti and Yotam Zimri, and radio stations Galei Tzahal, Galei Israel, and Radio Darom. The defendants will collectively pay Drucker 285,000 shekels in damages and legal costs after falsely accusing him of criminal extortion against then-Defense Minister Beni Gantz.
Drucker announced the legal saga's conclusion on social media, detailing how the Magistrate's Court initially awarded him 180,000 shekels. The defendants appealed the ruling, while Drucker cross-appealed for higher damages. The District Court subsequently rejected the defendants' appeal and partially accepted Drucker's, ordering an additional 105,000 shekels in payment.
Drucker also criticized Education Minister Yoav Kisch, calling him a "primary instigator of defamation" who evaded the lawsuit due to parliamentary immunity. He stated that despite Kisch not paying out of pocket, two courts have determined the value of his false statements. Drucker thanked his attorneys, Uri Edelstein and Yonatan Berman.
The case began in June 2021 when Drucker published an opinion piece in "Haaretz" titled "Journalists, It's Time to Be Useful Idiots Again." In it, he revealed possessing embarrassing recordings of Gantz from before the April 2019 elections, explicitly stating the source refused to confirm their release. Nevertheless, Bardugo claimed on Galei Tzahal that Drucker had threatened Gantz, holding a "sword over his head" to be used if Gantz made a specific political move.
The controversy escalated in August 2021 when then-MK Yoav Kisch discussed the article on Palti and Zimri's radio show, alleging Drucker was politically threatening Gantz with the materials. Palti likened Drucker's actions to the "Sicilian Mafia." Following this, Drucker publicly demanded Kisch waive his immunity to be sued. When Kisch refused, Drucker filed the defamation suits.
Drucker's lawsuit against Zimri was based on his sharing of the interview on social media, not distancing himself from Palti's remarks. The lawsuit argued the defendants deliberately distorted Drucker's article, assuming listeners wouldn't read the original text. The defense contended that journalists' role is to accurately reflect interviewees' statements, a claim ultimately rejected by the District Court's ruling.
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