The American plaintiff alleged that Jerusalem reporter Judy Lash Balint had defamed her in an article that maintained that members of the ISM were in close contact with Palestinian Authority terrorist organizations. The plaintiff claimed that Balint had implied in the piece that her presence in the territories assisted the terrorist groups in perpetrating attacks. Balint was defended in the case by Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center, a legal rights institute based in Israel. The attorney for the plaintiff was Shamai Leibowitz, better known for his previous representation of terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti.
Balint expressed her satisfaction with the dismissal of the action, filed in December 2003, viewing it as a confirmation of the accuracy of her reporting: "The judge's decision to throw the libel case against me out of court underscores my assertion about the true nature of the International Solidarity Movement. Hopefully, this decision will prevent further frivolous legal action against reporters who try to tell the truth about extremist groups."
After attempting to avoid posting a required bond for many months, the plaintiff was unable to prove to the satisfaction of the court that a compromise was being negotiated between the sides, as was claimed. After Attorney Darshan-Leitner informed the court that the defense would not accept a compromise in any circumstances, the court dismissed the lawsuit.
The ISM recruits anti-Israel radicals, primarily from Europe and American college campuses, and sends them to Judea, Samaria and Gaza to disrupt Israeli military operations, and vandalize the security fence and equipment. In April 2003, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported: "ISM members take an active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations."
Balint expressed her satisfaction with the dismissal of the action, filed in December 2003, viewing it as a confirmation of the accuracy of her reporting: "The judge's decision to throw the libel case against me out of court underscores my assertion about the true nature of the International Solidarity Movement. Hopefully, this decision will prevent further frivolous legal action against reporters who try to tell the truth about extremist groups."
After attempting to avoid posting a required bond for many months, the plaintiff was unable to prove to the satisfaction of the court that a compromise was being negotiated between the sides, as was claimed. After Attorney Darshan-Leitner informed the court that the defense would not accept a compromise in any circumstances, the court dismissed the lawsuit.
The ISM recruits anti-Israel radicals, primarily from Europe and American college campuses, and sends them to Judea, Samaria and Gaza to disrupt Israeli military operations, and vandalize the security fence and equipment. In April 2003, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported: "ISM members take an active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations."