Opinion
Just sue them
Yair Lapid
Published: 30.10.09, 14:07
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125 Talkbacks for this article
1. Brilliant Idea
Yaron ,   USA   (10.30.09)
Let;s finally show our friends that the road runs both ways. Slander and dis-infiormation should be dealt with as harshly as the reaction to the Mohamed cartoons in the Muslim world. The people who react so harshly to dis-respect of their religion are at the front line of the acrimony against Israel and Jews at large.
2. Lol what?
Henry ,   Canada   (10.30.09)
"Every journalist who refers to us as “war criminals” or “child killers” needs to know that the next day his newspaper will be slapped with a million pound lawsuit on behalf of the State of Israel. " Great job at killing freedom of the press as well as freedom of speech. Funny how it's 100% alright to call Palistinians just that but when it comes to Israel, oh NO, it just can't be true *cough* goldstone report.
3. About time someone suggested this.
Eric ,   Tel Aviv   (10.30.09)
Stop the slander and the hateful claims - make them back this up in court and lets see who is willing to face the costs of it.
4. GREAT IDEA
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (10.30.09)
Give them back some of their own medicine!!
5. At last a good idea..
Michel ,   Jerusalem   (10.30.09)
Except if the judges are already "islam embedded" as we've seen in several countries..and even in our.. Israel
6. Sue them
Monty Pogoda ,   Efrat Israel   (10.30.09)
EXCELLENT IDEA.
7. Yeah, but now they may always
Inyaki ,   Bilbao, Basque   (10.30.09)
reffer to Goldstones' report saying thy just cite it. I do not think this would work.
8. Yideshe Kopf at work. What took us so long?
Allan ,   Ft. Lauderdale   (10.30.09)
9. @ No. 2
AJ - Raalte ,   The Netherlands   (10.30.09)
Slander is not protected free speech, Henry! Freedom of the press doesn't give journos a free hand to make up false and libelous stories. They have to be able to back up their accusations or shut the hell up! Brilliant idea, Yair!!!
10. Sue Them- by Yair Lapid
Howard Fertleman ,   London England   (10.30.09)
What a brilliant idea. The best form of defence is attack as the State of Israel and we Jews already know. Shake up the anti Israel propoganda industry to its core. Make them think twice every time they defame Israel and by extension the Jewish people Can someone in the British Jewish Establishment get on with organising this.
11. Sue me, Yair Lapid!
Ben Alofs ,   Bangor, Gwynedd, UK   (10.30.09)
I am a medical physician who during the 1980s and 1990s worked in Palestinian refugee communities in Lebanon and in Gaza. I personally witnessed the massacre of Sabra and Shatila in Beirut, a war crime for which Ariel Sharon is responsible. We tried to bring him to court in Brussels, but we failed, because the Belgian government was intimidated by the USA. I know Gaza quite well. My last visit was in 2005 until Israel made access impossible. Based on the information collected by all the human rights groups, tv footage, the Goldstone report etc etc. I am quite sure that Israel committed war crimes during Operation Cast Lead. Sue me, Yair Lapid! My name is Ben Alofs and I am a Dutch medical professional (family doctor) in North Wales, UK. I am based at Meddygfa Star Surgery in Gaerwen on the Isle of Anglesey.
12. Reply to #9
Henry ,   Canada   (10.30.09)
Actually, my little dutch friend, freedom of the press and freedom of speech is the freedom to say anything without censorship or limitation. Censoring "war criminals" or "child killers" (information that may be partly true, especially since the Israeli attack on Gaza earlier this year) is indeed, a violation of freedom. Which at the same time is ironic because Israelis seem to have no problem calling the Palestinians just (war criminals or child killers). It goes both ways!
13. Talk is cheap ... Lets MAKE IT HAPPEN ALREADY
GZLives   (10.30.09)
14. Bring it on!
Avi ,   NYC   (10.30.09)
I am sure that many newspapers would welcome the idea of a libel suit against them by Israel. This lawsuit will not only provide the journalist with free publicity, but will also be easy to fight. Israel's true face will be exposed easily. "Child killers", "War criminals": There is plenty of historical proof for these allegations starting from Deir Yassin, through Kfar Qassem, Qibia, Sabra and Shatila and so on. Not only the specific events will be discussed, but also their religious/ideological background. Does anyone in Israel want a free discussion of Talmudic attitudes towards Gentile ("hatov shebagoyim harog" from tractate Sofrim) and the latest Rabbinical statements by some Rabbis? Can Israel afford this publicity? I hope YNET will publish that, without fear of being sued by the Israeli government.
15. Sue them
Heather ,   London   (10.30.09)
Great idea, am fed up of these people having it all their own way with their law suits and boycotts and demonstrations every time the word Israel is mentioned. But is there the will in the Jewish community especially the Anglo-Jewish community which is so busy trying to be British that it won't stand up for Israel?
16. Lol what
heather ,   London   (10.30.09)
Everytime someone says the slightest thing that Muslims object, they are not threatened with law suits but death. It is about time that these people learn that it is not one way traffic.
17. Yair You Are Brilliant!
JewWoman Warrior ,   Israel   (10.30.09)
Yair; brilliant suggestion; if they dish it out; we should dish it back harder. Never a shortage of Jewish lawyers; and they should start doing something for Israel and their people. Tie those Jew-haters up in court and around their necks with lawsuits left and right and up the middle...they will get the idea that we are finally fighting back not just with military might; but with words, as well. As the old adage goes; the pen is mightier than the sword. Shabbat Shalom
18. Simply a good idea:
(10.30.09)
Actually, this idea was unintentioanlly tried in France where it worked: it gave half positive result in my opinion: if you remember the Al Dura affair at the beginning of the 2nd intifada (little boy - killed or not? - supposedly by IDF), after an independent inquiry, it was revealed that the origin of fire may come from the palestinians. In the french court: the journalist (harsh anti israel journalist extremely famous in france and also jewish...) had been in court during 4 years, if my memory is correct (see wikipedia). After that , the second largest channel TV in France called "France 2" was much less controversial and check the information so they are not prone to send blood libels to millions of spectators that will swallow those lies in their couches! However their anti israel statement have declined a little bit but you know what will stop this idea, it is that Europe is 20 times more populated by muslims than by jews and muslims in Europe are mostly anti israel that will make harsh pressure on the press to adopt anti israel stance... So the battle will not be win but at least we can stop the most horrifying blood libels and biggest lies. That will be a progress for sure. Great idea
19. brilliant
Sam Barel ,   Toronto, Canada   (10.30.09)
Simple and brilliant idea. Sue them for slander in their own courts and the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Let them prove their case. Let them incur costs, time and ridicule.
20. U R fed up with MISUNDERSTAND of this problem...4 real -
Bob ,   Moscow   (10.30.09)
it's only couple persent of population outside Israel "inside the topic" U up here, & again & again & again U simply misleading people, lead away them from the REASON of such behaviour toward your country. Weakness & anarchy (that in 90% U call democracy or Jewish character) lead 4 situation, when no one RESPECT your people...Wanna see what happen in real life with someone without respect - go at night in public park...Baatzlaha leha there...
21. To 11 What does you being a doctor have to do with Int'l Law
The Dude   (10.30.09)
Seriously, you think just because you spent 10 years studying to be a GP makes you an international law expert? You cite the Goldstone report which is basically a Hamas Manuscript? The fact that these 'human rights' groups have based all there testimony on Palestinian information only and ignore anything that the IDF says. The fact that the FORMER HEAD OF HRW LAMBASTED THEM FOR THERE HYPOCRISY AND ONE-SIDEDNESS? TV footage? Which one where they have the green helmet guy telling people to re-display the bodies, oops wrong war. So which TV footage? Are you going to tell me that organs from dead bodies can used for in living people as well? The fact is that Slander, is not protected. You have presented NO evidence to prove anything you just said, and technically you are up for a lawsuit. Either prove what you say or it's hear say or worse slander. You have tried to create an illogical situation that by being a doctor, and working in Gaza, has made you an expert in a completely and unrelated area. Please, if you want to argue that either read go get a law degree or better yet be like Goldstone, go read the 4th geneva conventions, I recommend articles 28 and 29 for a starter.
22. So why aren't we suing Judge Goldstone?
Eyal ,   USA   (10.30.09)
His report was obviously biased and one sided. I say sue him for bringing the world against Israel. This is damaging. I say sue the UNHR as well.
23. Well said Dude #21!
Yaron ,   USA   (10.30.09)
Henry from Canada....you can not call the squaching of slander a violation of free speech. What do you not understand about that? We will see how the courts deal with the organizations that provide the platform for revisonism and mis truths that currently pollute the minds of their readers and viewers. As the author has pointed out....we have an endless resource of law scholars and young bright attorneys as a resource to pursue this.
24. 11
james ,   london   (10.30.09)
Im sure Dr Mads Gilbert is your right arm
25. Bob No 20
Heather ,   London   (10.30.09)
What you have written is illiterate and nonsensical. I cannot understand a word of it. What the heck are you trying to say?
26. Another thing
Heather ,   London   (10.30.09)
Why don't we sue all these terrorists that come into the UK and are wined and dined by our British politicians?
27. I said that a long time ago, but who am I
Nick Sporek ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (10.30.09)
28. Good idea, but act carefully
Gilad ,   London UK   (10.30.09)
While I think some in the media have gone too far and some should potentially be sued, there are a number of issues: 1) If you loose a lawsuit (whether on technicality, or because it is deemed that you could not sue them over the issue at hand), it will look like a vindication of those journalists slander. It will embolden them that they can get away with it EVEN IN A COURT OF LAW! If a lawsuit is to happen, the state of Israel must be willing to do whatever legally possible to win. A loss will be more costly than inaction. 2) A lot of the media, by citing the 'sources', take all responsibility away from themselves. If they print massive headlines about Palestinians claiming a massacre in Jenin, what can you sue them over so long as they state it's Palestinians saying this? They do often blur the line between facts, reports and opinions, but often they do it well enough to make it look like facts, yet if it came to a legal battle they have 'covered their backs'. What will we do then? It's not as simple as it sounds (although of course I leave that to the solicitors). Still.. in a few cases journalists have made blatant unfactual accusations themselves, and they should potentially be sued.
29. Sue their pants off :)
Luk ,   Antwerp, Belgium   (10.30.09)
30. #12
Greg ,   Toronto   (10.30.09)
Actually, my ignorant fellow Canadian, freedom of expression and freedom of the press DO NOT cover speech which is libellous or slanderous just like freedom of expression does not cover crying out "fire" in a crowded theatre. There are certain reasonable limits.
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