Yinon Magal Strongly Condemns Judge Over Defamation Case Ruling Against MK Rotman

Yinon Magal, a media personality from Channel 14, launched a harsh attack on Judge Oren Silverman, Deputy President of the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, following a ruling that dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by MK Simcha Rotman against Guy Peleg, Channel 12, and others. The lawsuit concerned a report alleging that Rotman said during a closed discussion on enforcement policy against incitement to terror that the blood of the Hallel and Yigal Yaniv brothers, who were murdered in Hawara, was "redder" than the blood of the victims of October 7. Rotman denied making this statement and claimed the report was false.

Magal argued that Rotman's words were misrepresented, stating it was illogical for Rotman to claim one victim's blood was "redder" than another's, and that Rotman had actually referenced a Talmudic source in Aramaic to clarify his position. He also cited attorney Gur Blay, legal advisor to the Constitution Committee, who supported Rotman's denial. However, the court accepted the testimonies of three Ministry of Justice lawyers present at the meeting and ruled against Rotman, noting Blay's testimony lacked concrete memory of the session.

Magal condemned Judge Silverman's decision, calling him either "a great fool or a complete villain," and accused the ruling of reflecting improper ties between the judiciary and the media, allegations not found in the court's decision. He urged Rotman to appeal to the District Court, hoping for a verdict that would reveal the truth.