Channel 12 Journalist Guy Peleg Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Harassment
Channel 12 legal correspondent Guy Peleg has filed a 440,000 shekel lawsuit against activist Leon Ben Atar for defamation, public spitting, and severe harassment.
Channel 12 legal correspondent Guy Peleg has filed a civil lawsuit in the Herzliya Magistrate Court against right-wing activist Leon Ben Atar, demanding nearly half a million shekels in damages for defamation, harassment, invasion of privacy, and other tortious wrongs.
The Incident Outside the Lecture Hall
The core of the lawsuit stems from an incident outside a venue where Peleg was delivering a public lecture. Ben Atar reportedly arrived at the scene and began hurling severe insults and offensive epithets at the journalist, including calling him a pedophile. According to the statement of claim, the confrontation escalated when the activist spat at Peleg in public, despite a police presence at the location.
Peleg is demanding approximately 440,000 shekels, which includes 200,000 shekels specifically attributed to defamation claims under the Defamation Prohibition Law, alongside compensation for emotional and reputational distress.
"Anyone exposed to these remarks clearly understands that their purpose was to humiliate the plaintiff, make him a target for hatred, ridicule, and scorn, and inflict severe psychological and professional harm on one of Israel's most senior and respected journalists," the legal filing states.
A Pattern of Legal Action Against Harassment
This legal step is part of a broader campaign by Peleg against online incitement and targeted harassment. Courts recently ruled in Peleg's favor, ordering right-wing activist Shlomi Acharak to pay 100,000 shekels for similar defamatory remarks. In a separate case, a Twitter user paid a 20,000-shekel settlement after hurling abuse at the journalist online.
Peleg has repeatedly emphasized that he intends to draw a firm red line against anyone attempting to harm his reputation or intimidate him over his journalistic work.
