Anti-Netanyahu protest leader sued for allegedly not paying demonstrators

"I never promised anyone a cent," Haskel replied, when asked by N12 whether he paid fellow protesters to enthusiastically participate in the demonstrations against Israel's prime minister.

MARCH 17, 2021 11:28

Air Force general Brig. Gen. Amir Haskel attends a press conference at the Balfour protest tent, against the request of the Jerusalem Municipality to the court to vacate the tent before the holiday period, August 9, 2020. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90) — Air Force general Brig. Gen. Amir Haskel attends a press conference at the Balfour protest tent, against the request of the Jerusalem Municipality to the court to vacate the tent before the holiday period, August 9, 2020.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)

Former Brig.-Gen. Amir Haskel, a veteran anti-Netanyahu protester who has headed multiple prominent groups to the cause, has been sued for failure to pay a protester helping to organize demonstrations. Haskel has been active and vocal against the prime minister for years.

Gidi Shachar, a prominent figure in the protests in recent months, has sued Haskel in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.

According to Shachar, Haskel promised him NIS 10,000 for actions necessary to keep the protests up and running, like gathering supplies and tending to the maintenance of the protest tent.

Shachar claims to have received only NIS 5,000 of his promised pay back in July, and has now sued Haskel for compensation in upwards of NIS 50,000.

"I never promised anyone a cent," Haskel replied, when asked whether he paid fellow protesters to enthusiastically participate in the demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by N12 on Tuesday.

The suit further claims that part of what Shachar would do for Haskel is collect donation money from visitors and supporters who showed up at the protest tent. That money would go straight to Haskel, the N12 report noted.

Haskel has previously been the target of attacks, though of a more right-wing nature.

On March 1, he was attacked – pushed to the ground and beaten – by two unidentified men, one with tzitzit. They were chased off by bystanders a minute later.

In late October, videos surfaced of a man shouting at Haskel, calling him "despicable" and someone who "spreads diseases in the State of Israel."

Haskel has shown that he is willing to do the work to see Netanyahu removed from office. When he got arrested in June for blocking traffic in Tel Aviv, he said he did not regret his actions.

"If my arrest and that of two more friends ignited a fire, the price was worth it," he said at the time.

Gil Hoffman and Hadassah Brenner contributed to this report.