Israeli Defamation Lawsuit Dismissed: Key Lessons from Guy Michael Willis

When an Online Defamation Claim Fails Because the Publisher Cannot Be Proven

On January 2, 2024, the Magistrate’s Court in Bat Yam issued its judgment in Guy-Michael Wales v. Avi Roy Dubitzky, Case No. 29286-01-21, dismissing a ₪100,000 lawsuit alleging defamation, sexual harassment, and invasion of privacy.

The case provides an important example of a problem that increasingly appears in internet-defamation litigation: it is not enough to prove that a damaging publication exists. A plaintiff must also prove, through admissible and sufficiently persuasive evidence, that the defendant published it or is legally responsible for its publication.

Judge Ronit Ophir ultimately held that the plaintiff had failed to establish the necessary connection between Dubitzky and the publications at issue. The claim was therefore dismissed. The court also ordered the plaintiff to pay ₪12,000 plus VAT in attorney’s fees.

For lawyers and litigants dealing with anonymous Telegram channels, social-media accounts, digital identities, and circumstantial internet evidence, the judgment offers several practical lessons.

[Internal link: Israeli Defamation Law – Guide to Defamation Claims and Defenses]

Background of Wales v. Dubitzky

The plaintiff, Guy-Michael Wales, worked as a judo instructor and taught children. Hisillis