Journalist Launches Crowdfunding After Court Orders 600,000 Shekel Payment
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Journalist Hadas Steif has initiated a crowdfunding campaign seeking around 600,000 shekels after a court ordered her to pay damages to Efi Nave, former head of the Israel Bar Association. The ruling is related to Steif's alleged role in hacking Nave's phones, a case that began in 2019. The court found Steif to be the primary instigator of the breach. Steif claims she acted in her journalistic capacity and is now facing financial ruin without public support.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Journalist Hadas Steif launched a crowdfunding campaign for 600,000 shekels after a court ruling.
- The court ordered Steif to pay damages to Efi Nave, former head of the Israel Bar Association.
- The case involves Steif's alleged role in hacking Nave's mobile phones in 2019.
- The court found Steif to be the 'instigating and mediating factor' in the phone breach.
- Steif claims she acted within her journalistic duties and faces financial ruin.
- The total court-ordered payment includes 450,000 shekels in damages and legal fees.
Israeli journalist Hadas Steif has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds after a court ordered her to pay approximately 600,000 shekels (about $165,000 USD) in damages to Efi Nave, former head of the Israel Bar Association. The ruling stems from a lawsuit Nave filed over Steif's alleged involvement in hacking his mobile phones.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Steif described her dire financial situation due to the legal proceedings, warning of potential enforcement actions and asset seizures. She criticized the state for not providing her with support while she was acting in her journalistic capacity. "I tried to avoid this. I thought justice would be done. I was wrong," Steif wrote. "I said and repeated that I would go to jail rather than pay. But in the meantime? All my assets will be seized. Enforcement will ruin my life."
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 fees and attorney costs, the total amount reached around 600,000 shekels.
The case originated in January 2019 when Nave's phones were hacked, leading to the exposure of personal materials that were subsequently published by Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio). While criminal investigations into the hacking were closed, Nave pursued a civil case against those involved.
Judge Oren Schwartz stated in his ruling that Steif was "the instigating and mediating factor who initiated and promoted the breach of the password-protected devices," noting her actions had a criminal nature due to her central role. The court found that Steif actively met with Hani Nave and recruited Yuli, who carried out the hacking, knowing his capabilities. This contrasted with other journalists from the station against whom Nave's claims were dismissed.
Steif maintains she acted within her journalistic duties and without personal interest. She stated that the legal process has already cost her the compensation accumulated over 35 years of work and is now seeking public assistance to meet the court-ordered payment. Steif had previously been suspended from Galei Tzahal after accusing MK Itamar Ben-Gvir of involvement in terror attacks.
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