Court Orders Right-Wing Activist to Pay Former IDF Spokesperson $28,000

A Tel Aviv court has ordered right-wing activist Ran Karmi Buzaglo to pay former IDF Spokesperson Avi Benyahu NIS 103,600 (approximately $28,000) plus interest and linkage for defamation. Judge Aviam Barkai ruled that Buzaglo's social media posts, which implied Benyahu had handed over IDF soldiers to foreign entities, constituted libel. Benyahu had sued for approximately NIS 493,000, claiming the posts falsely attributed serious actions to him, including aiding enemies during wartime.

The case originated in January 2025 after Benyahu criticized the military and military police over an incident involving two soldiers wearing "Messiah" insignia at a soccer game. Benyahu posted a photo of the soldiers, stating he received it from retired Major General Shlomo Cohen, and claimed Cohen was attacked after confronting them. Buzaglo then shared Benyahu's post, questioning if Benyahu had also reported an Israeli soldier arrested in Brazil for alleged war crimes.

Judge Barkai emphasized that framing accusations as questions does not absolve the publisher of responsibility. He found that Buzaglo's posts created the impression that Benyahu had already informed on soldiers, and that the only remaining question was his involvement in the Brazil case. The court determined these accusations lacked any basis and were serious, especially given the context of wartime.

Buzaglo's defense, including claims of humor, sarcasm, and legitimate opinion, was rejected. The judge noted Buzaglo's admission that he acted out of anger and did not take reasonable steps to verify his claims before publishing, acting in bad faith. The court also dismissed Buzaglo's argument that the lawsuit was intended to silence free speech, stating that such damaging posts could deter public expression and that public criticism does not justify baseless criminal accusations.

The judge set a base compensation of NIS 40,000 but doubled it due to Buzaglo's intent to personally harm Benyahu, noting the defendant's significant desire to hurt the plaintiff. Benyahu stated he pursued the lawsuit because Buzaglo refused to apologize and warned others about the dangers of malicious online posts, urging them to "watch your keyboards."