An Israeli court on June 11 awarded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife $32,500 in a libel case over a journalist's claim she kicked him out of the car during a row. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

JERUSALEM, June 11 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli court on Sunday ordered a journalist to pay 115,000 shekels (about 32,500 U.S. dollars) in damages to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara for defaming them.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate Court ruled that Igal Sarna libeled the Netanyahus in a post on Facebook, in which he claimed that Sara Netanyahu kicked Benjamin Netanyahu out of the car during a night ride from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Sarna is a senior journalist with Yedioth Ahronot, one of Israel's largest newspaper that often voices critical views of Netanyahu.

The Netanyahus sued Sarna for 280,000 shekels (about 79,200 dollars.) In March, they appeared in court to testify against Sarna.

Sarna claimed that he has a source to support his claims. However, the court ruled his post was aimed at harming Netanyahu and his wife.

Following the verdict, the Netanyahus said that justice was served and Sarna said he is considering appealing against the court's ruling.