Gush Etzion Regional Council head resigns amid sexual harassment allegations
Davidi Perl, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, resigned Friday amid allegations of sexual harassment and impropriety following reports that he paid hush money to a woman who alleges Perl harassed her.
Perl's announcement comes a day after Ynet published a petition drafted by religious-Zionist rabbis and educators calling for Perl to resign.
"After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to end my term as head of the council," Perl announced. "This decision is not easy in light of the commitment I undertook to serve you faithfully as well as the broad support I received recently.
"Despite all of this, there is no reason to continue my tenure as head of the council for various reasons and mainly for the good of my family I have decided to resign following the completion and approval of the council's budget for the coming year, which will allow significant action and development in Gush Etzion."
The petition for Perl's resignation was signed by Rabbi Ohad Taharlev, the head of the Lindenbaum Seminary in Jerusalem, Rabbi Rachel Keren, head of the Ein Hanatziv Seminary, Shmuel Shetach, Director of Ne'emanei Torah VaAvodah and many other rabbis and educators from Jewish academic institutions in Israel.
"It is inappropriate for an elected official accused of sexual abuse to keep his job," explained signatories. Furthermore, in contrast to a private person, "any elected official must meet strict criteria of integrity."
Three months ago, Perl signed an agreement whereby a woman accusing him of sexual harassment would be awarded damages. In the days following the filing of the complaint, the council asked to clarify the matter with Perl, who refused and instead agreed to pay the woman hundreds of thousands of shekels and pledged not to run in the next round of elections.
