Yair Netanyahu demands state pay for money he lost in libel suit

Yair Netanyahu requested through his lawyer that the state pay the damages awarded to him in his stead as part of the defamation suit of former Walla! editor Avi Alkalai.

Yair Netanyahu makes a stormy appearance at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, December 2018.  (photo credit: AVSHALOM SHOSHANI)
Yair Netanyahu makes a stormy appearance at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, December 2018.
(photo credit: AVSHALOM SHOSHANI)

Yair Netanyahu, son of opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday contacted the State Attorney's Office through his lawyer, requesting that the state pay for the NIS 400,000 he lost in a defamation suit, which must be given to the plaintiff as damages.

Attorney Amit Hadad, who represents Netanyahu, contacted the State Attorney's Office regarding the defamation suit won by former Walla! editor Avi Alkalai.

Defamation suit against Yair Netanyahu

In 2019, the former editor sued Yair Netanyahu after he shared claims on social media that Alkalai was a "plant of the Wexner Foundation" on the Walla! editorial board who aimed to harm his father, then-prime minister Netanyahu.

Yair Netanyahu makes a stormy appearance at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, December 2018.  (credit: AVSHALOM SHOSHANI)
Yair Netanyahu makes a stormy appearance at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, December 2018. (credit: AVSHALOM SHOSHANI)

Hadad claimed that Yair Netanyahu's loss in the defamation suit was due to the negligence of a state employee who did not forward the statement of claims to the Prime Minister's Residence.

The prosecutor's office stated in response that they will answer Yair Netanyahu's request in the coming days.