Radio North is suing a Haifa journalist for 142,446 NIS for defamation

Radio North filed a lawsuit against Haifa journalist Tali Liebman in the amount of 142,446 NIS for defamation. The lawsuit explains that Liebman harmed the good name of the radio and some of its employees as well as the livelihood of the radio owners.

Liebman explained in response to the statement of claim that this is a spiteful lawsuit that is intended to be threatened and that this is a legitimate criticism of the Haifa Municipality, which commissioned sympathetic coverage on a radio program, and that the statements are not a criticism of Radio North, but a legitimate criticism of the actions of the Haifa Municipality.

The letter of the claim indicates that Liebman published a post on the social network Facebook on 14.5.20/XNUMX/XNUMX following a transmitter that the plaintiff had (Radio North) in the city of Haifa - a salute transmitter designed to honor the rescue and aid workers in Haifa.

The wording of the post published by Liebman on her private Facebook page:

Mayor Einat Kalish What are you afraid of?
explanation:
The municipality brought Radio North to broadcast from Herzl Street in Hadar, under the title saluting the municipality's corona fighters.
According to the dictates of the municipality, various interviewees from the municipality were invited to the stage set up in the Carriage House and told about their work during the Corona virus.
I have no idea how much these licks broadcasts cost us and why did you collaborate with a radio that the Haifa people are not connected to. Enough with national radio, but local radio from the north? Good thing they didn't bring Radio Tiberias.
As mentioned, the municipality does not respond to difficult questions as you already know, but all this will pass.
The climax of all this stupidity was that Mayor Einat Kalish, the heroine who sits in the city hall just a few meters from the broadcaster's stage, did not come physically like the other interviewees, but was interviewed by phone!
What are you afraid of, mayor?
from the residents?
Are we that scary?
Put signs like wild boars only with our picture!
Wait, the highlight comes in the first sentence of the presenter who describes all the wonderful things going on in the city during the Corona virus:
Presenter Rina Benyon: "It's all thanks to the person who stands behind all this and thanks to her the morbidity rate in Haifa is the lowest in the country, Mayor Einat Kalish"
Klish: Hello Rina
Me: Pee
It reminded me of Eliran Tal's articles.
who has now become the deputy speaker of the municipality.
And allegedly wrote to Rina the questions that Mrs. Klish would not be upset about.
Everything apparently
Howl I went to throw up

In the statement of claim, it is claimed that the quoted words constitute defamation against Radio North, when it is presented as an empty tool from a journalistic point of view, and is, as it were, a puppet of the municipality of Haifa. In addition to the fact that the identity of the interviewees and the questions to be asked by the interviewers were dictated to the radio. If that is not enough, it appears that Radio North is presented as someone who sold his journalistic principles in exchange for making money. and an attempt to lower the status of the radio.

The CEO of the station, Rina Ben Ayon, contacted Liebman, after the publication of the post, and asked her to delete it and publish an apology that would pass their approval. Liebman, refused, claiming that it was not defamation.

In response to the pre-suit warning letter that was sent to Liebman, her attorney Aharon Eitan, from the law firm of Doron Tykotsky Kantor Gutman and Amit Gross, replied that the lie that Liebman published does not constitute prohibited publication under the law against defamation. He also added that Liebman's claims against The radio is true to the truth and sponsored under the protection of "I spoke the truth". What's more, the post was published on her personal page and there was no publication as a journalist on behalf of Radio Haifa or Yedioth Haifa where she is employed.

This is a publication that was an expression of opinion about a public body (Haifa Municipality) and the main criticism was not about Radio North.

As mentioned, Radio North decided to submit the lawsuit in the amount of NIS 142,446.

The journalist Tali Liebman gave Hai Fa in response:

This is a spiteful lawsuit filed against me by Radio North. The lawsuit was filed following a personal and private post I published, in which I expressed my opinion about the broadcasting day of that station in Haifa. I understand that people whose "kindness" is what always motivates them, are trying to discredit my name in an orchestrated manner in the last few hours. to feel good about themselves.

This is a lawsuit that is designed entirely to intimidate me and prevent me from continuing to express my opinions. I am represented by the Tikotsky law firm from Haifa, and I am convinced that justice will both be done and seen. A counterclaim will be filed soon. I feel great and far from excited.

The saddest and most chilling thing for me is the use the plaintiff makes of the name and memory of the late IDF Sergeant Major Raz Mintz, who fell in battle with terrorists. If the association in memory of the soldier needs donations, I will donate to it with great love and with all my heart and soul. The cynical exploitation that the prosecutor makes on behalf of the deceased soldier is the most insulting to me, and she should be ashamed.
I will always continue to express my opinions. No one will threaten me and try to silence me from expressing my personal opinion and taste.