Author to Issue Apology and Revise Book in Defamation Settlement

Author Hanan Amior and Sela Meir Publishing will issue a formal apology and revise the book "The Consciousness Engineering Workshop" following a defamation lawsuit filed by Attorney Yair Nahorai. The parties reached a settlement at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, ordering the defendants to pay Nahorai 45,000 shekels.

The legal dispute stems from a controversy involving Israeli media reporter Omri Maniv, who broadcasted a report on controversial remarks made by Rabbi Asaf Namburg regarding secular Israelis and military service. Amior subsequently claimed on the Perspective website that Maniv had distorted the rabbi's statements.

In November 2020, the rabbi and the pre-military academy filed a one-million-shekel defamation lawsuit against Maniv, Channel 13, and five other figures, including Nahorai. While Maniv and the network reached a confidential settlement in July 2021, Nahorai insisted on clearing his name and fought the allegations in court.

Although the original lawsuit against Nahorai was dismissed, Amior's book maintained the claim that Nahorai had edited and provided the misleading clips to Maniv. In response, Nahorai sued Amior and Sela Meir Publishing for 200,000 shekels, arguing that the passage damaged his professional reputation.

During proceedings before Judge Mika Banki at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, the parties agreed to a settlement. Amior will publish a retraction on his social media accounts, and future print and digital editions of the book will be amended to remove the contested claims regarding Nahorai.