Lawsuit Filed Against Yedioth Ahronoth for Publishing Minor's Photo with False Criminal Allegations

A civil lawsuit demanding 80,000 shekels has been filed against Calcalist, a publication under Yedioth Ahronoth, for defamation, privacy violation, and breach of the Youth Law. The suit was submitted by attorney Chaim Bleicher and intern Tom Nisani from the Honenu organization on behalf of a minor and his parents. It concerns the publication of the minor's photo with visible face alongside false claims of criminal behavior.

The article in question, published in July on Calcalist's website under headlines "They Have No God" and "I No Longer Know Who the Enemy Is," depicted the minor as part of "gangs of rioters" involved in violent acts during an incident in the West Bank village of A-Tayba. The minor's parents assert that their son was not involved in any trespassing or violence but was simply tending his sheep near Rimonim Square in the Benjamin region. They emphasize that he has no criminal record and has never been detained or questioned by security forces.

The lawsuit includes footage from the minor's own camera showing that he was outside the fence and began filming activists who were photographing him. The family stresses the harm caused by publishing the minor's image with false criminal accusations, warning it endangers him physically and could lead to stigmatization. They also highlight the lasting damage to his reputation online, which may affect his future employment opportunities.

Yedioth Ahronoth declined to comment on the lawsuit. The case highlights ongoing concerns about media violations of minors' rights and the impact of false reporting on vulnerable youth in the West Bank.