Israeli man sues: 'You cheated — return the alimony'
The Haifa Family Court rejected a man's lawsuit demanding retroactive return of alimony paid to his ex-wife due to her infidelity. The judge ruled that payments cease only from the moment of divorce, not separation. The man claimed financial hardship, but the court found the evidence insufficient.
The Haifa Family Court rejected a lawsuit by a man who demanded that his ex-wife return alimony payments retroactively, citing her infidelity during the marriage. The judge ruled that payments to the spouse cease only from the official divorce, not from the day of actual separation. The couple divorced in June last year. About a year before that, the man was obligated to pay about 10,000 shekels monthly: half to his ex-wife, the rest to their two children. The man claimed that his total expenses, including alimony, mortgage, and additional costs, reached about 30,000 shekels a month, leading to financial difficulties. He also stated that his ex-wife leads a comfortable lifestyle. The woman objected, noting that he lived in a penthouse and hosted expensive events. The judge rejected the demands for retroactive cancellation, stating that this would strip the maintenance obligation of its meaning, and that the claims of infidelity are 'far from the factual picture' reflected in the rabbinical court's decision. The court also dismissed the arguments about severe financial hardship due to lack of evidence.