Bar Association Demands Investigation into Channel 14 Over Judge Intimidation
Israel Bar Association head Amit Becher has demanded a criminal investigation into Channel 14, Yinon Magal, and Yotam Zimri for incitement and intimidation against Judge Oren Silverman.
The head of the Israel Bar Association, Adv. Amit Becher, has urgently appealed to the Attorney General and the State Attorney with a demand to open a criminal investigation against Channel 14, Yinon Magal, and Yotam Zimri, following what he defined as incitement to violence and a severe attempt to intimidate Judge Oren Silverman.
Becher's letter was sent following the broadcast of the program "The Patriots" after the dismissal of MK Simcha Rothman's libel suit against Channel 12. During the program, Magal called the judge "stupid," "a complete villain," and "part of the junta," while Zimri added that he was a "liar" and accused the court of a deal with the media. The head of the Bar Association states sharply that these remarks amount to incitement, insulting a public servant, and defamation, and constitute a personal attack aimed at harming the judge's independence and influencing future judicial decisions.
In the letter, Becher emphasizes that these explicit statements were made within a context of mockery, degradation, and the presentation of distorted facts from the verdict. He also requested to examine the remarks and conduct of Rothman on the program. Copies of the letter were sent to the Police Commissioner and the Director of the Courts.
Simultaneously, Yair Lapid, through the Gazit-Bakel law firm, sent warning letters before a lawsuit to Yitzhak Mirilashvili, Itamar Fleischman, and Daniel Cohen. According to the information provided, Fleischman claimed on air that Lapid is "helping the Nazis," and on another occasion, Lapid was called a "Judeo-Nazi." Lapid's lawyers argued that the use of terms linking a person to Nazis or concepts from the Holocaust era is severe defamation that does not receive protection. Lapid demanded that a video apology be published within 24 hours and that the remarks be retracted, clarifying that if this is not done, a lawsuit will be filed.
