Attorney and activist Barak Cohen has sent a formal pre-litigation warning letter to Channel 14 and 'The Patriots' panelist Yedidya Meir. The notice follows comments made during a broadcast last June, in which Meir described a chance meeting with Cohen at a gas station near Atlit. According to Meir's broadcast, Cohen pulled out a camera and used derogatory language toward him.
Attorney Cohen categorically rejects these claims. In his warning letter, he asserts that the described incident never took place and characterizes the content as fabricated. Cohen claims the broadcast constitutes defamation and a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation. Furthermore, he criticizes the fact that no program staff or channel editors challenged the statements in real-time, and alleges that the clip was further disseminated across the channel's platforms, including its website and YouTube channel, where he claims it garnered tens of thousands of views.
As part of his demands, Cohen requires the channel and Meir to issue a public apology on air, clarifying to viewers that the publication described events that never occurred. Additionally, he demands financial compensation of NIS 50,000. Cohen clarified in his letter that if his demands are not met within seven days, he intends to file a defamation lawsuit seeking NIS 150,000.
It should be noted that Barak Cohen is known in the public sphere for his protest style, which involves documenting public figures and prominent personalities on camera—an activity that often sparks significant public and social media discourse. As of now, this letter represents only the position and claims of Cohen, and the matter has not yet been adjudicated in court.