A legal dispute affecting the Israeli media and music industries has recently reached the police. Musician and producer Lior Shulman, known for his work with prominent Israeli artists, was questioned under caution last week on suspicion of making threats against Channel 12 journalist Guy Peleg. According to reports by the ice website, the investigation was launched following a complaint filed by Peleg on July 20, after Shulman posted a series of sharp remarks against him on social media, sparked by the publication of security footage concerning the Sde Teiman affair. In these posts, Shulman criticized Peleg’s coverage of the event, using harsh language. Reports indicate the rhetoric escalated to explicit threats, with suggestions that the journalist should be executed in Shin Bet basements, and that the author would be willing to serve a prison sentence if he met him in the street.
Shulman, in his version of events provided upon the story’s publication, explained that the response stemmed from personal pain, as his daughter serves as a soldier in the Givati Reconnaissance Unit that operated at the Sde Teiman base. He claims Peleg’s coverage deeply harmed him and his family. The musician emphasized that he did not lead a personal campaign against the journalist, and that the text was written as a joke in a private online conversation that has since been deleted. Shulman clarified to police that the remarks were mere slang, without any genuine intent to harm or commit a crime, and noted that no restrictive conditions were imposed on him following the questioning.
Conversely, Guy Peleg’s position remains firm and uncompromising. Responding to media inquiries on the matter, Peleg stated he views the content as a tangible threat that has shocked many citizens. Peleg clearly stated his intention to continue pursuing criminal legal action against Shulman. Furthermore, Peleg noted he is not settling for the criminal aspect alone and intends to file a civil lawsuit regarding the matter later on. The case highlights the fine line between legitimate, albeit harsh, social media criticism and crossing criminal lines that constitute threats against public figures and journalists. For now, the case is under police review, with both parties presenting conflicting versions regarding the nature of the statements and the intent behind them. Shulman added that, in the spirit of the month of Elul, he is willing to apologize to Peleg if the latter felt threatened by his words.