Israeli Lawyer Explains Why Settler Communities Cannot Sue for Defamation as a Group

Attorney Menashe Yado from the legal organization 'Chinuch' explained in an interview with Channel 7 that Israeli law does not permit defamation lawsuits to be filed on behalf of an entire public group. As a result, those spreading false accusations against settlers in Judea and Samaria enjoy near-complete legal immunity. Yado highlighted that the "Settler Violence" campaign fuels internal Israeli hatred toward these settlers and even incites antisemitism globally. However, no legal action can be taken collectively by the settlers against these defamatory claims.

Yado clarified that while an individual can sue for defamation if personally targeted, groups such as settlers cannot sue as a collective. Even the Yesha Council, representing settlers, can only sue if it is itself directly harmed, but a group of people is not recognized as a legal entity eligible to file defamation claims. He cited the example of false allegations against the residents of Homesh following the murder of Yehuda Dimentman, where media figures like Gideon Levy accused settlers of horrific acts. Despite court rulings proving these claims baseless with medical evidence and photos, the court ruled that since settlers are a group, no defamation claim could proceed.

Yado also noted that only the Attorney General can authorize criminal proceedings for defamation against a group, but his requests to the Attorney General have been ignored. He compared this inaction to the failure to investigate other damaging falsehoods against Israel, such as the "Unit 100" allegations that reached the UN Security Council. Nonetheless, Yado and his organization continue to act within the limited legal framework, suing individuals when specific persons are accused. Recently, a court in Bat Yam awarded damages to a young man falsely accused of poisoning wells, demonstrating that individual defamation suits can succeed.