Israel’s vice-premier Silvan Shalom, a veteran politician in Binyamin Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud party, has resigned following allegations that he had sexually harassed several women during his career.
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“During this past week, because of my hesitations and the hesitations of my wife, my children, and my elderly mother, I have cut short my path. My family is supporting me fully, but there is no justification to the price demanded of them”, Shalom said. “For these reasons I have chose to quit my position as a minister and Knesset member”.
This afternoon the Ministry of Justice held special consultations on the subject with the participation of the Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and senior police officers in the Lahav 433 unit.
Police have nevertheless reportedly opened a probe into the complaints against Shalom and are gathering evidence and looking for potential witnesses to testify over the accusations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tasked Shalom in May with leading negotiations with Palestinians.
Its resurrection has brought other complaints in its wake. Inside Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom stated in a press release Sun.in that he’s stepping down.
The Jerusalem Post reported that 11 women had alleged “inappropriate sexual advances toward them”.
Amir Ohana is a lawyer and former internal security service member and head of the Likud party’s LGBTI caucus Ga’ava ba’Likud (Pride in Likud).
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Similar cases have blighted the army.
