Guitarist Avi Ben Shitrit Sues Lior Narkis for Over One Million Shekels After Seven Years

Avi Ben Shitrit, a guitarist who performed regularly with Israeli singer Lior Narkis for seven years, has filed a lawsuit against Narkis and his production company. The claim, submitted to the Beersheba Regional Labor Court, demands 1,241,150 shekels, alleging that Ben Shitrit’s employment ended without prior notice or a hearing. Ben Shitrit began working with Narkis in January 2019 under an agreement to work exclusively with him, having previously played with other well-known artists such as Eden Ben Zaken, Dudu Aharon, and Maor Edri. Although officially an independent contractor invoicing for his work, Ben Shitrit argues that the relationship was effectively employer-employee, with Narkis as his primary source of income. He was due to receive 2,000 shekels plus VAT per performance starting January.

The lawsuit details a close personal relationship between the two, with Ben Shitrit describing Narkis as like family. The dispute escalated at an event at Ronit Farm, where Ben Shitrit was scheduled to perform but was allegedly replaced without his knowledge. After raising the issue with the production manager, he was removed from the band’s WhatsApp group, effectively ending his work without formal dismissal procedures. Screenshots attached to the lawsuit include messages from a former social media manager for Narkis, who shared a similar experience of discovering her termination via social media posts during maternity leave, telling Ben Shitrit, "You are not alone," and confirming they no longer worked together.