Journalist to Pay Shas Chairman 40,000 Shekels in Defamation Lawsuit
In a recent court ruling, journalist Ben Caspit has been ordered to pay Shas chairman Aryeh Deri 40,000 shekels, as well as an additional 20,000 shekels in court costs, after the court partially accepted Deri’s defamation lawsuit against the journalist. The lawsuit was filed in response to Caspit’s accusations that Deri was responsible for the tragic Miron disaster.
Caspit had previously written that “the blood of 45 victims of the Miron disaster is smeared on [Deri’s] hands.” Judge Aviim Barkai ruled that this claim was partially accepted, stating, “The claim is partially accepted and only in relation to the statement attributed to the plaintiff according to which ‘the blood of the 45 victims of the Miron disaster is smeared on his hands’.” The lawsuit was filed by Deri following a post and column written by Caspit in 2021. Deri was represented by lawyer Ilan Bombach throughout the legal proceedings.
Another Defamation Lawsuit Filed by Deri
Deri has not stopped with just one defamation lawsuit. He recently filed another against journalist Gur Magido from “Time” following certain publications that discussed Deri’s alleged involvement in the city of Ashdod’s elections. In the statement of claim filed by lawyer Ohad Rosen on Deri’s behalf, he argues that Magido’s publications are “absolute libel.”
According to the lawsuit, “The truth is that Deri didn’t know, didn’t hear, and wasn’t familiar with the project until Magido contacted him and asked for his response.” In response to the indictment, Magido took to his Twitter page and expressed confidence in his position, stating, “He will fold or lose.”
As these defamation lawsuits unfold, it remains to be seen how they will impact both the reputation of those involved and the overall discourse surrounding their respective cases.
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