Tony Greenstein loses appeal over being called a ‘notorious antisemite’

A Jewish anti-Zionist activist who was ordered to pay £68,000 after unsuccessfully suing for libel after being called a “notorious antisemite” has now lost an appeal.

Tony Greenstein lost his defamation claim against Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) in November last year, after a court ruled they were entitled to call him an antisemite.

Greenstein – who was expelled by Labour – has now lost an appeal meaning he now owes increased costs of a total of £81,854, according to CAA.

“Three Lord and Lady Justices sitting at the Court of Appeal have dismissed an appeal by Tony Greenstein against aspects of a High Court ruling, deciding in favour of Campaign Against Antisemitism,” said the group.

“The High Court had struck out Mr Greenstein’s libel claims against us, ruling that it was permissible for us to call him a “notorious antisemite” in articles on our website, in an example of litigation humiliatingly backfiring.”

Greenstein had appealed on grounds that the CAA’s references to his spent convictions was made in malice, a claim which was rejected by the Court of Appeal. 

Judges ruled that among other reasons it was acceptable to include the spent convictions because “the law has long recognised that it is only fair for someone to know the character of a person who is attacking the character of another.”

Bankruptcy proceedings have been issued against Greenstein by the group, which is seeking permission from the High Court for officials to seize his assets and pay the court costs from them.

A hearing is due on July 14. 

Last month, Jewish News reported how a Labour councillor had been forced to fundraise £20,000 to pay costs incurred after successfully defending a libel claim made by Greenstein. 

The anti-Zionist activist had accused ex-Cllr Josh Jones of calling him a Holocaust denier, a claim which was struck out because it had no reasonable chance of success.