Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir is demanding 3 million NIS from journalist Josh Breiner and the editors of the Haaretz newspaper for defamation claims.
The statement of claim submitted states that when the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir took office about six months ago, "the defendant received from the other defendant [Haaretz] a project that concerned the defamation and persecution of the plaintiff. For this purpose, it was decided to remove the defendant from most of his occupations for the defendant and make him sit down every day, for long hours, to find and invent stories about the plaintiff; most of which have no basis in reality."
Itamar Ben Gvir is suing Haaretz journalist Josh Briner over this report for 3mil. Ben Gvir claims that while he does consult with the homophobic racist Bentzi Gopstein, he doesn’t consult with him on police and security matters. https://t.co/UmW60do3qM
— Ittay Flescher (@ittay78) June 16, 2023
It is further detailed in the lawsuit: "On June 8, 2023, the defendants published on the defendant's website, an article entitled: "Benzi Gopstein, who is accused of inciting racism and terrorism, advises Ben Gvir on police and security matters", and also an article in the daily newspaper with the same text but with a different title: "Benzi Gopstein, who is on trial for inciting terrorism, advises Ben Gabir on security matters." "It goes without saying that this article is false from the ground up and its purpose is to hurt Itamar Ben Gvir," Ben Gvir’s lawyers claimed.
"Mr. Benzi Gopstein, who has been a friend and close neighbor of the plaintiff for years, never advised the plaintiff on matters of state security related to his position as Minister of National Security, did not participate in closed security meetings concerning the police or national security, was not involved in any decision of the plaintiff related to his position as Minister of National Security and certainly he was not involved in the decision to reprimand this or that officer, or in decisions related to the round of appointments in the police," according to the statement of claim.
The Office of the Minister of National Security said in response: "It's time for Breiner, who pretends to be a journalist, to know that the daily lies he publishes have a price. We will meet in court."
The lawsuit comes after the Haaretz newspaper management decided to forbid the newspaper's writers from appearing on Channel 14 broadcasts, which is considered more right-wing and conservative. As a result, Haaretz reporter Josh Breiner announced on Twitter his departure from "The Patriots" show on Channel 14: "After four years, dozens of programs, and one torn shirt, I decided to take a break from The Patriots. Many thanks to Yinon, Hagai the great editor, to the panelists and viewers, those who liked and who did Not."
