Courts Legal Adviser Demands Removal of Caricature Critical of Court

The plot thickens. Courts Administration Legal Adviser Adv. Barak Laser demanded the removal of a caricature in the Shevi’i newsletter, claiming it arises to the level of incitement.

In a letter Laster sent to newsletter publisher Rubi Luzon, editor Ariel Weissberg, and caricaturist Or Reichert, Laser wrote the following, among other things:

“This morning we were exposed to a critical tweet by journalist Ilan Lokatch on Twitter containing a screenshot from the Twitter account of caricaturist Or Reichert, who published a tweet containing a caricature of what looks like the image of the Retired Supreme Court President Esther Hayut hoisting a flag on the body of a soldier.”

“This is a serious publication which rises to the level of suspicion of incitement to violence. In addition, the aforementioned publication can raise the suspicion of contempt of court. As such and in light of all of the above, you are required to immediately act to remove the publication from all the media in your control.”

Laser added that “this letter does not concede the right to take any legal or other action including filing a complaint to the authorized authorities.”

This is the first time in many years (if it has a precedent at all) that the courts administration demands a caricature be erased for incitement.

The paper has already been printed and is already being distributed, such that aside from removing it from the digital edition, the Shevi’i board doesn’t seem to have much more they can do on the matter.