A publication accompanied by photos in a community settlement's WhatsApp group accused one of the residents of using public water and electricity resources to wash his private car without any permission. The publication did not mention the name of the person.
The Court accepted the claim and deemed the publication defamation. Israeli law defines defamation as something the publication of which may humiliate a person in the eyes of mankind and make him the target of hatred, contempt or ridicule on their part, whether by oral publication, in writing or in print, if it was intended and reached that person or another person. The element of “publication” applies if it is possible to relate the publication to a specific person. Here, the publication accusing in theft was made in writing and by pictures in a local WhatsApp group of the settlement, with various residents identifying the person accused based on the publication. Therefore, the publication amounts to defamation.