Israeli Court Upholds Defamation Conviction Against Yossi Kamisa Over False Claims Against Avigdor Lieberman

The District Court rejected Yossi Kamisa's appeal against his criminal defamation conviction related to false allegations he made against Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Kamisa, a former aide to Lieberman, had accused the former Finance Minister of offering him $100,000 to murder a police commissioner during an election period. The court ruled these claims were knowingly false and emphasized the timing during a sensitive election campaign, which harmed the democratic process.

The judges found Kamisa's testimony unreliable while affirming Lieberman's credibility. Kamisa was ordered to pay a total compensation of 90,000 shekels to Lieberman and his party and to serve a six-month suspended prison sentence, as previously determined. The court highlighted the severity of the offense, noting the significant damage caused to both Lieberman as a public figure and to the political system.

Lieberman responded to the verdict by stating, "The truth is stronger than any lie. Even when there are attempts to run smear campaigns and blood libels, justice ultimately prevails." The case had previously sparked public debate, including questions from former MK Moshe Feiglin about why the police did not investigate Kamisa's testimony. The court's ruling now confirms the allegations were baseless and defamatory.