Court Dismisses Yoav Eliasi Defamation Lawsuit Against Raviv Drucker
A Herzliya court dismissed a defamation suit filed by activist Yoav Eliasi against journalist Raviv Drucker, ruling that Drucker's claims about Eliasi acting as a propaganda arm for Minister Itamar Ben Gvir were proven true.
A Magistrate's Court in Herzliya has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by activist Yoav Eliasi, known as "The Shadow", against journalist Raviv Drucker. The court ruled entirely in favor of Drucker, ordering Eliasi to pay 25,000 shekels in legal fees and court expenses.
The lawsuit stemmed from an opinion piece and publications by Drucker, in which he argued that Eliasi acted as an "external propaganda arm" for National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Drucker further suggested a reciprocal relationship between the two, noting that Eliasi received a certificate of appreciation from the Israel Police, honorary officer ranks, a firearm permit, and a significant role as a standby squad commander.
In a detailed ruling, Judge David Yitzhak fully accepted the defense's argument regarding the truth in publication defense under the Defamation Law. The court established that evidence showed Eliasi served as a paid consultant for the Otzma Yehudit party, drafted social media posts, and participated in the party's official messaging group alongside senior figures.
The judge noted that these findings substantiate the claim that Eliasi functioned as an external propaganda arm for Minister Ben Gvir. Furthermore, the court ruled that the use of the expression "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" is protected under the law as legitimate expression of opinion based on the established factual basis.
