Shas official suspected of indecent acts

Shas' David Yifrach, head of the Histadrut Labor Federation's welfare division was taken in for police questioning Thursday, after being suspected of sexual harassment and of performing indecent acts on three of his female office employees.

Along with Yifrach, the police questioned a municipal rabbi from central Israel, suspected of obstruction of justice.

In late November 2007, the Histadrut's chief legal counsel, Attorney Alon Levin, received an anonymous letter by a woman, detailing sexual harassment allegedly performed by Yifrach in plain view of several of his female subordinates.

Levin, who also serves as the Histadrut's sexual harassment ombudsman, spoke with the witnesses mentioned in the letter, but did not forwards the matter to the police.

Several weeks ago, a woman filed an official complaint against Yifrach, which led to a police investigation in his matter. The woman alleged that Yifrach exposed himself in front of her as well as touched her genitals.

Her complaint led the police to other women who were allegedly subjected to similar behavior by Yifrach. According to police suspicion, this went on for quite a long time, since the women – fearing they will lose their jobs – chose not to press charges.

Shas officials told Ynet that Yifrach was suspended from all duties in the party as soon as it learned of the allegations, later calling on Histadrut Chairman Ofer Eini to do the same.

Yifrach, who categorically denied all charges against him, has been on leave of absence from the Histadrut since November.

Attila Somfalvi and Neta Sela contributed to this report