Natan Eshel to be questioned in harassment case

Prime Minister's bureau chief to be interrogated by Civil Service Commission on Tuesday, will be confronted with the testimonies alleging that he sexually harassed employee R.

Aviad Glickman|Published: 02.06.12 , 18:32

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau chief Natan Eshel will be interrogated by the Civil Service Commission on Tuesday and will be confronted with the testimonies alleging that he sexually harassed employee R, Ynet learned Monday.

Eshel extended his leave by 10 days on Sunday. The allegations against Eshel include harassment, sexual harassment, stalking, and exhibiting obsessive behavior towards R.

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A source involved in the investigation told Ynet that "this is the first time that Eshel will present his version of the events and that's incredibly important to the next step in the investigation."

The decision to summon Eshel to a Civil Service Commission was made in a meeting held by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein with State Prosecutor Moshe Lador, senior prosecution officials and Civil Service investigators.

As yet, Weinstein has not decided how to respond to R's refusal to testify or cooperate with the investigation. When Eshel's interrogation comes to a close, Weinstein will be given an update on the situation and will decide how to proceed.

Weinstein received a interim report from the Civil Service Commission on Thursday, containing a testimony of a senior bureau staffer who claims to have heard a female employee saying that Eshel took an indecent photograph of her – an act that constitutes sexual harassment.

Officials close to the prime minister ventured earlier that Eshel will be required to leave his post due to the investigation into his alleged harassment of a female employee. The sources said that even if Eshel's behavior isn't deemed criminal, the fact that three senior bureau staffers complained about it won't allow him remain in his current position.