Barak Seri to Pay Gideon Sa'ar: "You Will Receive Bank Details on Sunday"
Media personality Barak Seri addressed the verdict in a libel lawsuit filed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Sa'ar responded with a sharp jab, reigniting the public dispute on the X platform.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and media personality Barak Seri continue to clash even following a court ruling. The latest exchange took place on the X social network, where Seri published a detailed post addressing the libel lawsuit filed against him by Sa'ar over a year ago, which sought 75,000 shekels in damages.
In his post, Seri explained that the lawsuit stemmed from a tweet in which he claimed Sa'ar had traveled to London with his wife and children at the state's expense, alleging the trip was primarily a private vacation with meetings scheduled only to justify the visit. Seri argued that criticizing ministers who travel on state-funded trips with family members is a matter of significant public interest, particularly during wartime.
Seri noted that during the legal proceedings, Sa'ar presented documentation proving he had paid for his and his family's flight tickets. He further claimed that payment for the apartment where the family stayed in London was only settled after their return to Israel, following his initial post.
Regarding the court's decision, Seri stated he was ordered to pay Sa'ar 6,000 shekels for each of the publications reviewed, noting that the judge had set the amount at the lower end of the scale. He added that Sa'ar's request for legal costs was denied, and the lawsuit filed by his wife, Geula Even-Sa'ar, was dismissed.
Despite the outcome, Seri emphasized that he does not regret the legal battle. He maintained that he acted out of a belief in the necessity of holding public officials accountable and clarified that he would fulfill the court's order with a sense of civic duty.
"A strange way to admit a resounding defeat. On Sunday, you will receive the bank account details for the transfer of the amount ruled by the court."
Sa'ar, for his part, chose to respond with sarcasm. In a tweet, he wrote: "A strange way to admit a resounding defeat. On Sunday, you will receive the bank account details for the transfer of the amount ruled by the court." By doing so, he signaled that he views the verdict as a clear victory, adding another layer to the ongoing public conflict between the two.
