Former MK convicted in sex case

Court convicts Eliezer Cohen of fondling EL AL flight attendant while on board flight from New York to Tel Aviv

Eli Senyor |Published: 10.21.12 , 16:33

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court on Sunday convicted former MK Eliezer Cohen (Yisrael Beiteinu) of performing an indecent act on an El Al flight attendant.

The incident occurred while the MK was on board a flight from New York to Tel Aviv. Cohen reportedly touched a flight attendant's breast while his wife was sleeping next to him.

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The stewardess, who was appalled at the former MK's behavior, shouted: "What are you doing? Touch your wife."

Shortly after the plane landed, the distressed flight attendant filed a police complaint against Cohen.

Cohen denied the accusations made against him, claiming that the stewardess did so in order for him not to be able to complain against the poor service she offered him on the flight.

After hearing various testimonies, Judge Sarit Zamir decided to convict Cohen of committing an indecent act.

"These testimonies paint a clear-cut picture, leaving no room for doubt regarding the defendant's blame," she said.

Cohen served as a pilot, squadron commander, base commander and Sinai area commander in the IDF until 1974 when he retired as a colonel. In 1999 he helped establish Yisrael Beiteinu, and was placed fourth on the party's list for the elections that year.

Cohen re-entered the Knesset in 2003 after Avigdor Lieberman resigned his seat after being appointed Minister of Transport. He decided not to run for re-election in the 2006 elections.