Another struggle against racism has concluded with an important legal and moral victory, as the Magistrate’s Court in Tel Aviv-Jaffa recently accepted a lawsuit filed against the “Huli Gvuli” club and ruled that the plaintiff, a young man of Ethiopian descent, was discriminated against upon entering the venue due to his skin color and origin.
The verdict serves as a sharp reminder to every business owner in Israel that discrimination is not only an immoral act but also a violation of the law that carries significant financial sanctions. The incident revealed how the plaintiff was denied entry with the claim that “entry is for invited guests only,” while evidence presented to the court – including videos and testimonies – showed that other patrons were admitted at the same time without any check of pre-arranged lists. The court ruled that the club’s version, stating the venue was full or that entry required pre-registration, was unconvincing and unsubstantiated. It ruled that the defendants concealed the true and probable reason in the circumstances – the plaintiff’s discrimination based on his origin, appearance, and skin color.
The lawsuit was based on the Prohibition of Discrimination in Products, Services and Entry into Entertainment and Public Places Law, 2000 (hereinafter: “Prohibition of Discrimination Law“), which forms the basis for the legal struggle against discrimination in Israel and prohibits discrimination on grounds of race, religion, nationality, and place of origin.
A key point in the verdict was the use of Section 6 of the Law, which establishes “presumptions of discrimination,” making it easier for the plaintiff to prove his claim in cases of denied entry to a characterized group, as happened here when the club failed to meet the burden of proof required to rebut this presumption.
This verdict represents a significant step in the struggle to ensure an egalitarian public space, where every citizen can feel belonging and protected regardless of their origin. The court indeed awarded the plaintiff the maximum compensation stipulated by law without proof of damage, amounting to NIS 50,000, plus NIS 10,000 for legal fees and court costs. The judge noted that the defendants’ refusal to acknowledge the wrongfulness of their actions and their problematic defense – including concealing important witnesses and submitting misleading security videos – justified the awarding of the maximum sum.
In this context, it is important to note that the fight against discrimination is a top priority for the governmental unit for the coordination of the struggle against racism, which works to eradicate these phenomena in the public sphere. As part of the effort to make justice accessible to the entire population, the temporary order allowing legal representation from the Legal Aid at the Ministry of Justice for lawsuits under the Prohibition of Discrimination Law without an economic eligibility check has recently been extended, aiming to remove financial barriers for victims of racism and enable them to realize their rights in court.