I was hoping that there would be some more specific news about the court's opinion in the Karsenty libel case today. The text of the decision has been released and Richard Landes has posted it at Augean Stables. Obviously and unfortunately (for me) it's in French. But AS reader Judith Rosay has helpfully translated or paraphrased the gist of it (see 1st comment here) and it doesn't look so good for France 2 and Charles Enderlin. Remember that, after the verdict Wednesday, Enderlin announced that "the appeals court ruled that Karsenty's words were, in fact, libelous, and that Karsenty failed to prove that the news was staged and/or false." Rosay's interpretation makes it sound as if the court actually found Enderlin to be less than credible and the footage to contradict his testimony. Interesting.
Meanwhile, Yaakov Ben Moshe (Breath of the Beast) has posted a pointed "thank you" letter to M. Enderlin (linked at Solomonia). I'd like to re-publish the whole thing, but you really should click through, so here's an excerpt:
So you showed your weakness and hubris just by filing the suit. Even more important though, from your law suit flowed the healing drama in the French courtroom in March. First, you demeaned yourself by bringing obviously altered tape into evidence into the courtroom. Then you further revealed your self delusion by pretending not to notice the derisive laughter of the gallery or that even the judge who was questioning you was treating you and your evasive explanations with amused disdain.
Now that the judgment is published, Charles, we are very pleased to see that you are going to do your best to help us to help you to complete your self-destruction by taking it to a higher court. We never had the stomach for the dirty fight you are waging we do not like to destroy other people- no matter how richly deserved. We, therefore are especially grateful to you that you have not had the moral fiber to resist you darker instincts and have thereby undertaken to do the job yourself.
There really hasn't been a heck of a lot of good news this week. I truly hope M. Enderlin gets every bit of what he so richly deserves.
Shabbat Shalom.
