A Givat Ze’ev resident is ordered to pay NIS 20,000 to another community resident for labeling him a “Nazi” the Jerusalem Magistrate Court ruled in the libel suit filed by attorney Chen Hollander in the name of the plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed he was badly humiliated by the defendant’s action in a community shul.

The incident dates back to November 2015 during seudas shlishis in the Darchei Noam Shul. The plaintiff is the shul treasurer and is active in running the shul. An argument broke out during seudas shlishis during which shul finances were discussed. The argument took place in front of many mispallalim and at one point, the defendant came over to the plaintiff and began shouting insults at him, which attorney Hollander says were libelous. Among the shouts was “Nazi”, which Hollander explains is prohibited by state law towards preventing it from being used and abused.

During the hearing last week, it was explained that several attempts were made to have the defendant apologize, but he would not hear of it at the time. Since the insulting incident, the plaintiff has changed to a different shul.

Realizing what awaited him in court, the sides entered into negotiations and agreed on the sum of NIS 20,000, which the court accepted and approved, making the agreement legally binding.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)