Will Minister Idit Silman lift immunity? Naftali Bennett filed a defamation lawsuit today (Thursday) against Idit Silman, MK Ohad Tal, and Channel 14 for "slander and publishing serious lies" - and is demanding damages in the amount of two million NIS.
Idin Silman responded: "Naftali, maybe you should take a tranquilizer. I understand that the surveys are stressful...""
Channel 14 reported: "Bennett's attempt to prevent the release of a recording of public interest joins Yair Golan's plan to silence media outlets that do not submit to his authority. Instead of hiding behind lawyers, Naftali Bennett is expected to come to the studio and provide answers to the public.".
At the center of the lawsuit: statements and publications attributing to Bennett the use of pharmaceuticals for his mental functioning during his tenure as Prime Minister.
In the harsh lawsuit, Bennett categorically rejects the allegations, calling them "serious lies" and "falsehoods." He says this is a planned attempt to mislead the public and damage his good name and his professional and personal skills.
The lawsuit states: "The defendants published serious lies about the plaintiff that did not exist and were not created. These are cheap and wild slanders that a desperate politician is inventing to mislead the public regarding the plaintiff's mental state.".
"The plaintiff has never taken any medication for his mental functioning. These are lies created by the defendant to excuse her shameful defection from the plaintiff's party, and to please those who appointed her as a minister - in exchange for her defection - and to try to save the fading political careers of both of them, which are nearing their end in the upcoming elections.".
Bennett and his legal team claim that these statements are not protected by the immunity law. "This is not an expression of opinion, nor is it an act done in the performance of a position or for the performance of a position. This is a case outside the immunity that members of Knesset have.".
Silman said about Bennett at a public conference: "After all, in the previous government, Naftali Bennett didn't function and it was from the beginning. He was both confused and stammering. In my opinion, in general, he was in a really, really bad mental state. Now, everyone around him knew it. They would put pills in him in all kinds of red boxes, as if so that he could function.
""The person who actually ran the Prime Minister's Office was Yair Lapid, Lapid and his entire team. And as far as I'm concerned, when I brought them down, I brought down Lapid as head of government, and that was clear to everyone.".
Political reporter Michael Shemesh responded: "Bennett is convinced - Silman's claim that he received pills so he could function harms his chances of being elected prime minister. And because of that, he proposes to take Bennett's lawsuit with limited liability. Feels a bit like a lawsuit for media purposes.".
""We are talking about two MKs who have full immunity. And a media channel that broadcast the recordings and attributed to them what was said.
""And if I may be allowed to bet, the lawsuit will not reach a legal decision.".
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