Man allegedly attacks wife with axe highlighting domestic violence problems
Haifa man suspected of attacking wife with axe, breaking her arm, causing flesh wounds as world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlighting issue of domestic violence in Israel
The woman suffered moderate injuries. Police claim they have no previous record of domestic violence in the family, but Ynet has learned that the woman had been in a battered women's shelter in the past.
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An initial police investigation revealed that the husband accosted his wife while she was asleep; he then attacked her with an axe, aiming for her face and body. While attempting to defend herself, the young woman's arm was broken.
The woman succeeded in fleeing the house into the street, at which point rescue services found her and evacuated her in moderate condition to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. According to the hospital, she suffered flesh wounds and bruising to her face and body, in addition to the broken arm, but did not suffer internal damages.
Sunday a Jerusalem man, 63, reportedly stabbed his wife, 60, to death. The man called rescue services and police to inform them of his act.
15,000 complains annually
While the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the condition of women in Israel, as well as police dealing with the phenomena, has much to improve.
In the last year, some 14 woman were murdered by their partners; the year before that 13. In 2012 alone some 15,000 domestic violence complaints were lodged with welfare services – a 4% increase in comparison to previous years – a new report filed by the Welfare Ministry revealed Sunday.
Welfare Minister Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) commented on the incident saying "a 4% increase means hundreds of domestic violence incidents a year. The ministry is working to offer a wide array of responses throughout the country."
Meanwhile, WIZO published a survey according to which only 20% of Israelis feel the police are properly handling such cases. The court's ability to handle domestic violence incidents was also garnered a lowly 20% approval rating.
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