Businessman David Azulai's Associates Claim Ex-Partner Uses Child for Media Blackmail

Associates of businessman David Azulai have presented a different narrative to the ongoing public dispute with Shir Hillel, claiming that Hillel is using their child for media pressure and financial extortion. According to Azulai's circle, the media escalation began after a late August court hearing where a judge reportedly told Hillel her financial demands were "unreasonable" and that child support would not exceed approximately 2,000 shekels per month. Azulai's associates emphasize his consistent efforts since the child's birth to establish paternity and register him on the identity card to maintain contact. They also claim that new allegations of a subsequent pregnancy lack medical proof, despite Azulai's offer to have Hillel take a simple home pregnancy test.

Azulai's representatives allege that once Hillel realized her legal case was weak, she shifted the conflict to the media to pressure him. They state that Azulai acted responsibly upon learning of the first pregnancy, which followed a brief relationship, and attempted to reach a "respectable settlement." He reportedly offered to pay thousands of shekels monthly and agreed to a circumcision ceremony, but Hillel allegedly backed out. Furthermore, they claim Hillel prevented Azulai from being registered as the father on the child's identity card, hindering his legal standing and ability to see his son independently. "She told him explicitly, 'I have no problem registering you as the father, but come sit with me and give me money, take care of me','" his associates stated, describing the child's registration as a "bargaining chip."

Court documents and Azulai's circle claim Hillel, who declared a monthly income of only 2,700 shekels, demanded around 34,000 shekels in monthly child support, citing economic reports about Azulai's businesses. Azulai's associates maintain his primary desire was for the child to be registered in his name and to be able to see him. Even before a court order, Azulai began transferring 2,500 shekels monthly in May, after his paternity was officially confirmed. His associates also refute claims that Azulai said he doesn't love the child, explaining he told the court it was difficult to bond due to the lack of independent visitation arrangements and Hillel's constant presence during their meetings.

Regarding claims of a second pregnancy, Azulai's associates state it was not raised in the August court session and only emerged after Azulai's wife, Mor Maman, posted holiday photos. Azulai reportedly visited Hillel to discuss the matter and offered a home pregnancy test, which she allegedly refused, demanding a "well-arranged apartment in a tall building on the sea in Rishon, a car, and money for a caregiver" before discussing anything further. They also dismiss old messages presented in the media as being taken out of context from the first week of their relationship two years ago, asserting that Azulai's podcast statements reflected his attempts to reach fair agreements against disproportionate financial demands.

In response, attorneys for Shir Hillel, Avraham Ambar and Sapir Sitbon, stated that abandoning a pregnant woman, getting engaged to another after three weeks, and leaving her to handle the pregnancy, birth, and child-rearing alone is "improper conduct." They dismissed Azulai's claims of financial extortion as a "house of cards" and asserted that Azulai has not borne significant financial responsibility for their son, who is now 15 months old. They noted his recent voluntary transfer of approximately 2,000 shekels monthly is insufficient given the child's needs and Azulai's alleged financial capacity, creating a disparity between the child and his half-siblings. The attorneys stated that child support is still being determined and that Azulai has not contributed to pregnancy, birth, circumcision, or ongoing child-rearing expenses. They highlighted a "unacceptable gap" between Azulai's public image of wealth and his alleged claims of financial difficulty in supporting his son, especially compared to his other children. Hillel's legal team vehemently denied any attempt at financial extortion, stating her only request was for Azulai to leave her alone and provide the means to raise their son in peace and security. They concluded that Azulai's attempts to shift the discussion to finances do not change the core issue: the alleged abandonment of a pregnant woman and a child, emphasizing that parental responsibility is demonstrated through actions, not media statements.