Court Rejects Rapper 'HaTzel's' Defamation Suit Against Journalist Drucker

A Tel Aviv court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by rapper Yoav Eliasi, known as 'HaTzel,' against journalist Raviv Drucker and Channel 13. Eliasi was ordered to pay 25,000 shekels in legal costs.

The lawsuit, filed approximately two and a half years ago, stemmed from statements made on Drucker's Channel 13 program. During the broadcast, Eliasi was described as an "extreme propaganda arm" of Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, with the phrase "one hand washes the other" used to characterize their relationship. The broadcast also featured the on-screen title "HaTzel and the Shadow Police."

Drucker explained that the lawsuit concerned an opinion piece where he stated Eliasi served as an external propaganda arm for Ben-Gvir, expressing the opinion that it was a "one hand washes the other" mechanism. He noted that Eliasi had received an "appreciation certificate" from the police and a significant role in civilian emergency response teams.

Judge David Yitzhak accepted the defense's position, ruling that the assertion of Eliasi being a propaganda arm was proven true and that the expression "one hand washes the other," in the context it was used, constituted permissible opinion.

Eliasi had sought about a quarter of a million shekels in damages, along with a public apology, claiming the statements constituted libel. He had previously stated his intention to legally pursue those he felt had harmed his good name, asserting his belief in free speech but intolerance for falsehoods presented as fact.