Journalist Hadas Steif Seeks Public Donations After Court Orders Large Payout
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Journalist Hadas Steif is seeking public donations through a crowdfunding campaign after being ordered by a court to pay approximately 600,000 shekels to Efi Nave, former head of the Israel Bar Association. The ruling, which found Steif liable for invasion of privacy related to obtaining Nave's phone data, also implicated the state. Steif claims she acted in her journalistic capacity and feels abandoned by the state, while the court determined her involvement was central and had a criminal nature.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Hadas Steif is crowdfunding to pay roughly 600,000 shekels in damages to Efi Nave.
- The court found Steif primarily responsible for invading Nave's privacy by obtaining his phone data.
- Steif claims the state betrayed her and she acted solely in her journalistic capacity.
- The ruling orders Steif and the state to jointly pay Nave 450,000 shekels plus additional fees.
- The case originated from the January 2019 access and exposure of Nave's personal phone information.
Israeli journalist Hadas Steif has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help cover hundreds of thousands of shekels in damages she was ordered to pay to Efi Nave, former head of the Israel Bar Association. The court ruling stems from a lawsuit Nave filed for invasion of privacy following Steif's involvement in obtaining personal information from his mobile phones.
Steif described her financial distress in a Facebook post, warning of collection proceedings and asset seizures. She criticized the state, claiming it abandoned her after she acted in her journalistic capacity. "I tried to avoid this. I thought justice would be done. I was wrong. Out of necessity, with a noose around my neck, I had to do what many advised me. I so didn't want to. I said and repeated that I would go to jail rather than pay. But in the meantime? Everything I own will be seized. Enforcement will ruin my life," Steif wrote.
The Central District Court in Lod ruled that Steif and the state must jointly pay Nave 450,000 shekels for invasion of privacy. Additionally, Steif was ordered to pay 25,000 shekels for a separate Facebook publication. Including legal costs and attorney fees, the total amount is approximately 600,000 shekels.
The case began in January 2019 when Nave's phone data was accessed, revealing personal materials. Some of this information was used in publications by Galatz radio. While a criminal investigation into the phone intrusion was closed due to low conviction prospects, Nave pursued a civil case against those involved in exposing the material.
The court differentiated Steif's actions from those of other journalists involved, whose claims were dismissed. Steif, however, was found to have played a central role in obtaining the materials, with the judge stating her actions had a criminal nature due to her key role in initiating and facilitating the breach. Steif maintains she acted within her journalistic duties and not for personal gain, asserting the state betrayed her.
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