Yair Lapid sues and receives a jab: "A devoted viewer of Channel 14"
After the warning letter sent by the opposition leader against senior figures at Channel 14, including commentator Daniel Cohen, an official response was delivered on behalf of Cohen. The response claims that this is legitimate political criticism, while taking a jab at Lapid regarding his viewing habits.
After the leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, sent a warning letter earlier this week before filing a lawsuit against senior figures at Channel 14, including the channel's owner Yitzhak Mirilashvili, commentator Itamar Fleischman, and attorney Daniel Cohen, claiming that he was called, among other things, a "Judeo-Nazi," an official response from Cohen has now been delivered through his representative, attorney Eyal Baserglick.
In the warning letter published by Lapid, it was claimed that Fleischman said that "Lapid is helping the Nazis" and that Lapid is a "Judeo-Nazi." Lapid further claimed that Daniel Cohen said: "Yair Lapid is like a Judeo-Nazi." According to him, this constitutes defamation that is not protected by law, and he announced his intention to file a lawsuit against those involved.
In the response letter sent on Sunday, Cohen, through his lawyer, rejects all the claims and demands made against him. At the very beginning of the letter, it is written:
"First and foremost, our client is happy to discover that your client is among the devoted viewers of Channel 14 — a channel of truth, free journalism, and sharp public discourse. Your client's choice to watch the right channel and be attentive to the voices rising from the public is worthy of praise."
Lapid had previously stated: "The Nazis murdered my grandfather and half of my family, my father was in the ghetto, a group of toxic lunatics. I am going to sue you for everything you have."
It is further argued that the remarks made by Cohen were stated "in a live broadcast," "in the heat of the moment," and out of "deep shock, justified anger, and great pain," and that they constitute public and political criticism of an elected official. Cohen asserts that he "stands fully behind the public and political criticism" he voiced.
It is further argued in the letter that the remarks were directed at Lapid's actions as a public figure, not as a personal attack. The response emphasized that elected officials in Israel are required to be exposed to sharp criticism, and that freedom of speech is a fundamental principle in a democratic regime.
At the end of the letter, Cohen rejects the demand to apologize and declares that if the proceedings reach the court, he intends to stand by his right to defend freedom of speech and protest, and even to demand legal costs for conducting the proceedings.
