Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday filed a NIS 100,000 libel suit against Channel 2 TV in the Tel Aviv District Court after the station refused to issue an apology regarding a program aired recently alleging he abused state funds in the course of his travels abroad in his previous term in office.

The program criticized him for having his wife accompany him abroad, a decision which is contrary to the Knesset legal advisor’s ruling.

The suit was filed by attorney Eli Zohar, stating the current situation is intolerable, one which permits the media to publish anything it feels, without concern, even in this case when it is clear that the facts as they are presented are simply untrue.

Channel 2 released a statement that it remains behind the integrity of the report, adding the matter will be adjudicated in a court of law.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)