"פחיתות כבוד": יובל של מגמות בדיני לשון הרע - כרוניקה של איזון דינמי

The present article uses empirical tools to identify and analyze trends regarding the balance between honor or reputation and freedom of expression in defamation law in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The analysis covers the period between 1967and the present, with focus on the last two decades. On one hand, most of the Supreme Court justices endorse freedom of speech because of its importance for democracy, and grant increased protection to it over honor and reputation, which are considered inferior to freedom of speech. This trend is even stronger when it comes to media publications.A similar trend can also be identified in the Ministry of Justice. By contrast, in the Knesset, there are ongoing efforts by some members to reinforce the status of honor as a central value that fulfills a basic human need. These efforts, however, have not been successful. The growing number of defamation lawsuits may suggest that this trend in the Knesset reflects the feelings of the public at large.