Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Judge Keren Miller has ordered Haaretz to pay 17,000 shekels ($4,800) in damages to the Efrat Association following a defamation lawsuit it filed against the newspaper. The ruling, issued on Monday, also requires Haaretz to publish a clarification on both its Hebrew and English digital platforms.
The Efrat Association believes that every woman should be fully informed of all available economic and social support options before making a life-altering decision about her future. At the heart of its ideology is the conviction that wealth or poverty should never determine whether a child is born, particularly in a Western or otherwise civilized society.
Attorney Tzafnat Nordman, who represented the Efrat Association in the lawsuit, stated: “The Efrat Association will not remain silent in the face of blatant lies being spread about it—above all, for the sake of the women who need support but may hesitate to reach out because of the defamation they’ve encountered. We are pleased with the court’s clear and unequivocal findings.”
The lawsuit stems from a December 5, 2021 article by journalist Noa Estreicher titled “Israel’s Message to Women: Be Fruitful and Multiply – and Get Lost,” which, among other claims, alleged that the Efrat Association “in recent years, has been investigated for pressuring pregnant women in distress, offering financial aid, and disappearing once the baby is born.” The English digital version also included a hyperlink to an unrelated article that did not pertain to Efrat, which the court noted as problematic.
When I checked out the Haaretz article, it was already accompanied by this apologetic note:
Clarification: Contrary to what was published in an earlier version of this op-ed, there are no known investigative reports from recent years which claimed that the Efrat anti-abortion organization promised financial assistance to pregnant women but vanished after the baby was born. We regret publishing this claim.
This was not enough, according to the Efrat Association, which proceeded to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz.
In her ruling on Monday, Judge Keren Miller stated:
“The defendants (Haaretz, its editors, and the journalist) submitted various articles and investigations, most of which concern the plaintiff—the Efrat Association—and harshly criticize its methods in opposing abortion. However, none of these publications assert that the plaintiff promises financial assistance to pregnant women and then abandons them after the birth. Even the 2013 article by the Israel Broadcasting Authority, which the defendants cited, does not make this claim; it merely argues that the assistance provided is insufficient to raise a child.
The defendants’ attempt to frame the plaintiff’s conduct as manipulative in how it presents financial aid or as lacking transparency toward women seeking help is not relevant to the matter at hand. The factual claim made in the published article—that Efrat disappears after offering financial help—is not substantiated by any of the referenced materials.”
In light of these findings, Judge Miller ruled that Haaretz must pay the Efrat Association 17,000 shekels ($4,800) in damages, along with an additional 8,000 shekels ($2262) to cover legal expenses.
Attorney Nordman concluded: “The verdict speaks for itself. The Efrat Association is a remarkable charitable organization that supports women facing difficult and complex moments in their lives. Efrat offers a listening ear and essential information, enabling women to make informed decisions independently—free from external pressure or a lack of knowledge.
“To ease the financial burden that often influences such decisions, Efrat continues to assist women after childbirth by providing baby equipment, strollers, furniture, diapers, food, and more. The organization also offers training and career guidance to help mothers build a stable future.”
