Yoav Eliassi (The Shadow) (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Rapper Yoav Eliasi, who operates under the alias The Shadow, filed a defamation suit with the Herzliya Magistrate's Court on Monday against Uri Kol, the founder and former CEO of the left-wing movement "Machzkim," which is popular on the Internet, demanding compensation in the amount of a quarter of a million shekels. "Cole used his influence online with the intention of harming Eliassi by defaming him and whitening his face in public, He represents him as a violent and thuggish type, prone to violence, a tendency to create violent terrorists against minorities, sowing fear among a large part of the population while dismissing their political opinions, while hurling baseless accusations at him accompanied by derogatory insults against him," Eliassi wrote in the lawsuit.
In the statement of claim, filed by Eliassi through attorney Yaniv Lankri of Lankri & Co., he cites a number of posts published by Cole or published on the Facebook account of "Machzkim" in May 2022. One of them was published on May 3 in "Machzkim" and included a reference to a song by producers Dolly and Penn created before last Independence Day with the participation of Eliasi, Statik and Ben El Tabori and Agam Bohbut for Independence Day, "BBQs", which reads, among other things: "Static and Ben El decided on Independence Day to promote hatred in Israel. Statik and Ben-El decided to cooperate with hatred. Violence. Kahanism. With the most toxic man in Israeli society (...) And perhaps there is nothing more suitable for Israel 2022 than to normalize the shadow. To say to him: Welcome to the heart of Israeli society. That there is a huge reward for years of hatred, incitement and violence. Because apparently the Israeli public is like the shadow: hates Smolans, hates Arabs even more, and anyone who dares to think that it is possible to do better here for everyone. There is no man or woman of the left whose blood has not been unbleshed by the shadow. Really risked his life. The incitement of the shadow is the most dangerous and violent well-oiled machine in the country. The shadow is one of the most dangerous people in Israel." The lawsuit also quotes from the continuation of the post, which claims: "Let there be no doubt: the shadow has a connection to Jewish terrorism (...) And precisely on a day of unity and independence, Static and Ben-El are collaborating with one, the man who does everything to make Israeli society broken, racist and violent."
Uri Kol, founder and former CEO of the left-wing movement "Machzkim" (Photo: courtesy of those photographed)
The lawsuit cites parts of another post, published two days later in "Machzkim," which reads, among other things: "The shadow, AKA Ben-Gvir's good friend, whose groups organize lynchings in the Arabs, the provocateur who does not shy away from any means, including attacking bereaved families, the distributor of fake news and the main instigator, receives from Statik and Ben El a paved path to the Israeli mainstream," and later claims that Eliassi is "a man who managed to incite his fans to the point where they organize lynchings of innocent people." As someone who "regularly corrupts our youth" and is a "violent incitement."
Eliassi further claims in the lawsuit that Kol "hardly shy away from any means to try to glorify his hatred towards Eliassi and the public that sympathizes with him" and that "freedom of incitement is not a substitute for freedom of expression," and demands, as stated, a quarter of a million shekels from Kol.Attorney Yaniv Lankri, who represents Eliasi, said in response: "This is another case in which my client's blood was allowed, in degrading statements amounting to extreme libel on behalf of Mr. Cole.
My client believes that the court will intervene and hopes for a decisive ruling on the duty of sound. More to come."
Uri Kol said in response: "Six days ago I marked one year since some poor Kahanist threatened to sue me for libel. Today, thanks to the Walla system! I found out that the letter had been sent. I haven't received it yet, so can't comment on details. In any situation, I intend to fight Eliassi's bullying. See you in court."
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