Should a Confessed Child Abuser be a Minister in Israel’s Current Government?

(JERUSALEM) Special to TheKnessetReport.com

“The question the Israeli public should be asking is – In the post Me-Too Movement, should a convicted child abuser and an admitted child-kidnapper be the Finance Minister of this outgoing Knesset?” remarked a child rights advocate recently.

The rekindling of looking into Avigdor Liberman’s own fitness for heading a ministry in Israel’s Knesset was sparked by his recent call to remove Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi from office.

“Removing Liberman from office before this Knesset is dissolved would be a major lift to thousands of children who suffered abuse at the hands of others,” continued the child rights advocate.

In the Mayo Clinic’s list of five major types of child abuse, physical, sexual, emotional, medical, and neglect, current Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman has admitted to 40% percent of them – physical and emotional abuse.

According to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, “any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child under 18 years old is considered child abuse. Child abuse takes many forms, which often occur at the same time.”

In a case heard at Jerusalem’s Magistrate Court in September of 2001, Lieberman admitted to kidnapping a child against his will and physically and emotionally abusing him.  Ultimately, he was let off with a slap on the hand – no jail time and a small fine.

The case was heard before the Honorable Judges, Shulamit Dotan, Aryeh Romanov, and Rachel Shelo-Gertel.

In State of Israel v. Avigdor Lieberman, Liberman was convicted only of of committing the offense of assaulting a minor under Section 368b(a)(Risha) of the Penal Law, 1977-1977 (hereinafter: the Law) and threats under Section 192 of the Law.

According to what was detailed in the amended indictment, “in the evening hours of 12/17/1999, the twelve-year-old son of the accused returned to his home in the settlement of Nokad and complained that three children had hit him.”

It further stated that, Liberman had, “chased the children, located the complainant inside one of the caravans in the settlement and attacked him..[Liberman] had hit the complainant in the face and he fell to the ground, when during the fall his head hit the wall. After that, the accused firmly grabbed the complainant by his shirt collar and arm and led him to his car.”

Lieberman then drove him against the child’s will away and threatened that he would beat him.

As a result of the described attack, the complainant was bruised and suffered swelling under his left eye, a bruise on the back of his head, and marks on his arm and much emotional trauma. The child did not wish to testify and as a result the prosecution acquiesced to a plea agreement.

The legal ruling noted that the defendant’s confession constitutes an acknowledgment on his part of his responsibility for his actions.