The Magistrate's Court in Bat Yam accepted the lawsuit of the mayor Zvika Brot against the political activist Meir Bacher, who in recent years published a series of videos and slanders of Brot and other officials in the municipality.
As part of the verdict, Bachar admitted that the words were a complete lie, that he was wrong and "now realizes that Brut acted with clean hands and for the benefit of the residents", as he put it.
The verdict, which was reached in a compromise between the parties, ordered Bacher to pay NIS 150,000, and he undertook to publicly apologize and delete the false publications he posted.
At the same time, there is another defamation lawsuit by Brot against Bacher and his friend Yossi Bacher, the former mayor, for similar publications.
It is believed that this verdict strengthens Brot's case against the two in the additional lawsuit as well, since Bacher has already admitted that his words were incorrect and were based on information that was not true.
Libel lawsuit against the mayor of Bat Yam/-
Among the publications that Becher put up, it is claimed, for example, that Brot received illegal payments for his car from the municipality.
Except that Brot even announced at the beginning of the term that he was giving up the salvage car he was entitled to, and purchased the car with his own money.
Brut, who promised the public that he would serve as a personal example during the municipality's recovery plan, also financed from his own pocket all the expenses of the fuel he traveled as part of his duties, and any savings to the municipality during the term of approximately NIS 200,000 that he financed from his own pocket - even though he was entitled to receive it as a salary.
In addition, Bacher published that Brot received a forbidden gift in the form of a wedding ring for him and his partner in a hotel in the north - but Brot had never stayed there on vacation, and during the discussion it became clear that there had never been anything.
Bacher also claimed that Brut's partner is the sister of a high-ranking official in her municipality, and therefore she receives financial benefits - but that high-ranking official has no sister at all, and it has been proven that she did not receive any benefits.
In the ruling, Judge Yigal Nimrodi praised the parties for reaching a settlement, and Bacher undertook to issue a public apology.
Bacher published a video in which he said that "after an examination I made, I understand that I was wrong and was misled by the publications. All the things were not true and even completely opposite of reality. Today I understand that the mayor always acted with clean hands and for the benefit of the residents. I spoke with the mayor and apologized to him and he agreed to accept the The apology. I request a complete retraction of all publications and I ask anyone who quotes me to stop doing so because the things I published are not true. I wish to express my regret and apologize to the mayor and also to the public before whom I published the things."
Zvika Brot will be represented by Adv. Tali Ben Simon. Bachar will be represented by Adv. Gil Samra
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Zvika Brut