Minister Nir Barkat Launches Legal Fund to Support Right-Wing Critics Against Channel 12 Lawsuits

Minister Nir Barkat has established a new legal fund, "Defamation Fund 12," to support right-wing activists and citizens facing legal threats or lawsuits from Channel 12. Many right-wing social media activists have reportedly been targeted with legal intimidation for criticizing Channel 12, often through cease-and-desist letters or defamation claims aimed at silencing dissent. Barkat’s fund, financed with 2 million shekels from his personal funds, aims to provide legal backing to those who have been sued or threatened, enabling them to defend their right to free speech without fear.

The fund is managed by prominent legal professionals, Professor Moshe Cohen Elia and Attorney Amir Rozenberg, who will assess applicants and provide financial support for legal defense or counterclaims. Barkat’s initiative responds to what he describes as an effort by Channel 12 to rewrite reality and intimidate ordinary citizens and opinion leaders into self-censorship. The fund encourages those affected to apply through its website to receive full legal assistance.

This move is positioned as a countermeasure to protect freedom of expression within the right-wing camp, offering a legal shield against what Barkat calls a "witch hunt" by Channel 12. The fund’s launch signals a new phase in the ongoing tensions between right-wing activists and mainstream Israeli media outlets, particularly Channel 12.