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Photo: AP
sraeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer (L) and David Keyes
Photo: AP

Yesh Atid MK urges dismissal of Israeli ambassador over Keyes

An opposition lawmaker is calling on prime minister to dismiss Ron Dermer for ‘ignoring his legal obligation’ and failing to report sexual assault allegations against a top Netanyahu aide; PM has yet to comment on the affair.

MK Karin Elharar (Yesh Atid), said Sunday that Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, should be recalled for not reporting warnings he received regarding the conduct of David Keyes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman to foreign media, who was accused of multiple sexual assaults by nearly a dozen women.  

 

 

Elharar, a member of the State Control Committee, sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu Friday saying: "Ron Dermer was warned of Keyes's problematic behavior towards women, and kept quiet, refraining from reporting him and ignoring his legal obligation."


sraeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer (L) and David Keyes (Photo: AP)
sraeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer (L) and David Keyes (Photo: AP)
 

 

Over the weekend, Dermer, who was perhaps Netanyahu's closest associate before taking office in Washington, confirmed he was warned in late 2016 about Keyes's inappropriate behavior towards women, but said he had not informed Netanyahu on the matter, since he did not consider Keyes' conduct to be criminal.

 

But Elharar noted in her letter to Netanyahu that Dermer was unqualified to judge this. Under the law sexual harassment is a crime and public servants are required to report any knowledge of it. Therefore, she said, she demanded Dermer's dismissal.

 

"Dermer thunderous silence sends a bad and problematic message to all women. It makes it clear that women's bodies no longer belong to them, when it comes to the whims of an esteemed official in the top echelons of the government, and that it is better for women to keep quiet," MK Elharar wrote in a letter addressed to the prime minister.

 

"In recent days, disturbing news has surfaced regarding the conduct of Keyes, your foreign media adviser. In the above-mentioned articles, difficult and problematic sexual harassment cases, allegedly committed by Mr. Keyes, have been described," she stressed.

 

"According to the articles, a large number of women were harassed by Keyes over the years, during his employment as a foreign media adviser, and while serving other positions as well. A long list of women describes how Keyes exploited his position and power to satisfy his desires and hurt them.

 

"These behaviors have no place in our society and should be condemned. All the more so when it comes to a person who holds such a senior position in government ministries," exclaimed the MK. 

 

MK Karin Elharar (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
MK Karin Elharar (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
  

 

"It should be clarified that even if Ambassador Dermer believed, as he said, that these were not criminal offenses, he is not the authorized figure to make such declarations and therefore his lawful duty to report these allegation is unequivocal," he emphasized.

 

"For these reasons I call upon you, in your role as foreign minister, to immediately dismiss Ambassador Dermer from his post, since it is inconceivable that a person serving in such a senior position is blatantly breaking the law," Elharar asserted.

 

"I call on you to show women that their voice is heard and that this dishonest behavior has no place in our society, and whoever contributes to these type of behavior will pay the price. Above all, I ask that you refrain from invalidating the provisions of the law," she concludes.

 

Netanyahu has yet to comment on the affair. Michal Rozin, a legislator with the opposition Meretz party, said his silence could be interpreted as tolerance of the alleged acts and she demanded he takes a clear stance against sexual assault and harassment.

 

MK Michal Rozin (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
MK Michal Rozin (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

 

Rozin, who formally headed Israel's umbrella organization for victims of sexual valence, has appealed to Israel's Civil Service Commissioner asking for the allegations against Keyes to be investigated because of the "serious concern of serial behavior."

 

The Meretz MK demanded Dermer's conduct be examined as well.

 

The Civil Service Commission reported Saturday that it will examine whether there is room for disciplinary action regarding the allegations of sexual harassment made against the prime minister's spokesman and the conduct of the Israeli ambassador.

 

The commission noted that: "To the best of our knowledge, all the allegations against Keyes relate to events that took place in the United

States and before he became a civil servant. If this is indeed the case, these are not events that we have the authority to investigate."

 

Regarding the involvement of the Israel's ambassador and his failure to report the allegations to the Prime Minister's Office, the commission stated: "From media reports it is unclear what exactly was said, this too, shall be investigated.

 

"As a rule, a civil servant who has been informed of sexual harassment allegations made against another civil servant, must report to the Director of Gender Equality in his office. The disciplinary department will try to understand the full picture and then it will be able to examine whether there is room for disciplinary actions," the Civil Service Commission added.

 

Julia Salazar (Photo: AFP)
Julia Salazar (Photo: AFP)

 

The David Keyes case was revealed to the public last week when the candidate for the Senate in New York—who has since won the elections—Julia Salazar, accuses Keyes of sexually assaulting her five years ago. Since then, another 11 women have come forward, making allegation against Keyes.

 

Keyes denies the allegations, saying they are "deeply misleading and many of them are categorically false." However, in light of the multiple sexual abuse allegations being leveled against him, the Netanyahu's spokesman decided to step down from his position.

 

“In order not to distract from the important work of the prime minister, I have asked to take time off to clear my name. I am fully confident that the truth will come out,” read a statement by Keyes.

 

The scandal has since spread to the rest of Netanyahu's inner circle, previously rocked with accusations of sexual improprieties. Natan Eshel, a former top aide, was forced to resign in 2012 after allegations emerged that he harassed and intimidated a woman in the Prime Minister's Office, including taking pictures up her skirt.

 

Earlier this year, Netanyahu's son Yair came under fire after a recording emerged of him joyriding at taxpayer expense to Tel Aviv strip clubs and making misogynistic comments about strippers, waitresses and other women.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.16.18, 15:07
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