The Haifa Magistrate Court has issued a ruling in a defamation lawsuit filed by the former head of the Usifiya Local Council, Bahij Mansour, against the current council head, Munib Saba, and two additional defendants from his circle. The legal proceedings concerned a series of publications released during the February 2024 local election campaign. According to the 'NWS' report, Mansour claimed the defendants published baseless accusations regarding corruption, tender rigging, and misconduct.
In her judgment, Judge Sigalit Matza determined that while some of the publications enjoy legal protections as permissible political criticism, others crossed the allowed boundary. The court found that claims presented as proven facts—such as tender rigging or the receipt of improper benefits—were not substantiated and were presented in an offensive manner. For instance, regarding Munib Saba, it was determined that he attributed to Mansour the granting of benefits to relatives, a statement classified as defamatory without protection.
The defendants were ordered to pay total damages of 45,000 NIS, plus 18,000 NIS in legal costs and attorney fees. However, the judge noted that in determining the compensation amount, it was taken into account that these statements were made in the context of a heated political arena, and a significant portion of the claims was dismissed. Attorney Yaakov Borovsky, representing Mansour, welcomed the verdict, noting that it draws clear boundaries between legitimate public criticism and defamation, especially for public officials. Munib Saba stated his intention to appeal the decision.