Journalist Guy Peleg and Listener Itzhak Malul Settle Defamation Dispute with Apology

A legal dispute between Israeli journalist Guy Peleg and listener Itzhak Malul concluded with a settlement agreement requiring Malul to delete defamatory posts about Peleg and issue a public apology. The conflict began after Peleg, during his radio show on 103FM, criticized the phenomenon of 'Bibi-ism' using harsh terms such as “violent, dangerous, criminal, nationalist, and inflammatory.” Malul called into the show to respond but was cut off by Peleg, who told him, “Quiet, quiet, quiet. Now we are talking Bibi-ist,” before removing him from the broadcast.

Malul filed a lawsuit seeking 160,000 shekels against Peleg and the radio station, claiming the broadcast was defamatory and part of a two-stage smear campaign targeting a political group and then labeling Malul personally. Peleg denied the allegations, asserting Malul came to provoke conflict and had insulted him on air as “violent” and a “disgusting racist.” Peleg also filed a counterclaim for the same amount, accusing Malul of repeatedly publishing defamatory remarks against him, including calling him a “slave of the rule of law gang,” “man of hate and poison,” and “human scum.” Malul responded that his statements were either honest opinions or mild insults not constituting defamation.

The court-approved settlement requires Malul to remove the offending posts and publish an apology stating: “In recent years, I published several posts about journalist Guy Peleg expressing my opinions. Some of these were inappropriate, and I have deleted them. I apologize to Mr. Peleg if any damage was caused to his good name because of me. It is permissible to disagree but always with respectful language.” The agreement was formalized as a court judgment, ending the legal battle between the two.

This resolution highlights the tensions around political discourse in Israeli media and the legal boundaries of public criticism and defamation.