Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., August 02, 2008 Av 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:35 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 07:29 01/08/2008
Professors accused of sexual harassment led 'reign of terror,' says colleague
By Ofri Ilani and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hebrew University, rape 

A day after Professor Eyal Ben-Ari was arrested on suspicion of forcing sex on his students, both professors and students Thursday described a reign of terror at Hebrew University's sociology department that kept female students from reporting his sexual harassment.

The police suspect Ben-Ari of indecent acts and extorting sexual favors from students and doctoral candidates in exchange for promoting them and providing funding for their research. The police refused to state how many women have filed complaints against the professor, but claim to have evidence that he sexually assaulted 10 students over a 10-year period. They also expect more women to come forward and complain now, since his
name and picture were published in the media after he was arrested and then freed on bail on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Ben-Ari told Channel 2 news last night that he cannot comment on the allegations against him due to fear of obstructing justice. "The most burning issue is to tell my truth, but unfortunately, there is an ongoing investigation," he said.

Allegations of sexual harassment in the sociology department surfaced about a year ago, when students sent an anonymous letter to university officials regarding Ben-Ari. The students accused Ben-Ari of rape, forced sexual relations and misuse of university funds, both to finance his own trips abroad with female students and to purchase gifts for them. They also claimed that the university management had been been shelving complaints against Ben-Ari for the last seven years.

Three months ago, a teaching assistant published sexual allegations against a colleague of Ben-Ari's, sparking a storm in the department, which ultimately led to Ben-Ari's arrest. The assistant, represented by the Israel Women's Network, claimed the other professor had exploited his position of authority to harass her after she ended a romance between them. She finally wrote a blog about the incident under the headline "A.
from the Sociology Department."

The new department chair, Dr. Gad Yair, admitted to a "reign of terror" in the department in a letter published on the Internet. "Neither academic freedom nor academics can exist in this environment," he wrote.

The university has denied dragging its feet in handling sexual harassment complaints. But Israel Women's Network attorney Yifat Mitzner said the university tried to close the case her client brought against the other professor and convert it into a case of "conduct unbecoming," without even hearing the complainant's testimony.

A university spokeswoman denied Mitzner's allegations, saying the Israel Women's Network itself had called the complainant's testimony incomplete, so university officials are waiting to hear her full story. A response could not be obtained from the professor in question.

Sociology professor Eva Ilouz said there are many more victims of similar crimes. "They must not be afraid to speak out," she said. "The Hebrew University should condemn this phenomenon, the result of a clear masculine culture."

But other professors in the department denied claims that there was a general problem of inappropriate relationships and sexual harassment, as well as claims that allegations are silenced. Previous department chair Zelli Guvitz said: "Any allegations and rumors were relayed to university officials. The Ben-Ari case was reported a year ago, but complainants did not come forward. The rumor mill worked overtime; there were accusations, conversations and faculty meetings. The matter was not shelved, but there
were no complaints, and university policy is that no action can be taken based on rumors."
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
A green light
Lebanese gov't passes statement backing Hezbollah's right to attack Israel.
Life sentence
Jewish oligarch convicted in Russia of murder in what he calls a 'show trial.'
  1.   What`s Going On In Israel And Iran? 08:03  |  Yosemite 01/08/08
  2.   Another symptom of a totally corrupt society 10:13  |  Chanalau, Tova 01/08/08
  3.   Extreme case in an general corruption environment 10:17  |  Ulf 01/08/08
  4.   Demise of Academic Standards at the Hebrew U 10:22  |  eliezer 01/08/08
  5.   The Curse of the Trouser Snake hits Israeli Academia 10:28  |  Clickfool 01/08/08
  6.   In light of all the potificating... 11:49  |  Esther 01/08/08
  7.   to chanalau tova 12:21  |  thierry 01/08/08
  8.   It`s not a question how those "incidents" occured 14:10  |  Kris Lazar 01/08/08
  9.   Americas forces are also reporting more cases of rape. 15:06  |  be the `all male` eg 01/08/08
  10.   The old caveman routine.. 15:16  |  Petra 01/08/08
  11.   # 7 Thierry, Amen and Bravo! 15:20  |  Petra 01/08/08
  12.   Perhaps Professor Eyal Ben-Ari alleged crimes... 16:27  |  bat yam 01/08/08
  13.   The allegations were hushed up 17:35  |  M 01/08/08
  14.   Ben-Ari`s shocked student 18:12  |  H W 01/08/08
  15.   Promotio per vaginam - nothing new in Academia 18:28  |  Dr. Bronner 01/08/08
  16.   Eyal Ben-Ari and colleague are well known leftist Arab supporters 19:05  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/08/08
  17.   Neuter them! 20:00  |  hollingsworth 01/08/08
  18.   10 year hypersex history and no complaints? 20:18  |  dav zee 01/08/08
  19.   NO difference between exploited students, making women sit in ... 20:36  |  jewdoc`spouse 01/08/08
  20.   Petra in "outerspace" 21:54  |  Dr. Jack 01/08/08
  21.   A national commission for academic corrution 10:56  |  Ulf 02/08/08
  22.   Hollingsworth Is Saying "Neuter Them" But... 13:14  |  Yosemite 02/08/08
 Read & React
Report: Hezbollah planning to 'force' IAF to cease overflights
Responses: 246
Obama helps U.S. woman fight Palestinian husband for their daughters
Responses: 123
Poll: Kadima led by Livni would edge out Likud in elections
Responses: 91
Opinion: U.K. better than most of Europe at reporting anti-Semitism
Responses: 56
Be firm with Iran, Mofaz urges U.S. leaders
Responses: 137
Rosner's Domain
Should the U.S. invade Darfur?
Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR)
What American Jews believe (WTR)
Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left


More Headlines
05:21 Hezbollah official: Group is stronger than before, ready for war
13:19 Several wounded in Gaza as Hamas raids suspected Fatah hideout
09:27 Defiant Mofaz vows to beat frontrunner Livni in Kadima race
06:17 Unknown assailants hurl brick at car in West Bank, injuring 7-year-old Palestinian girl
13:13 Mofaz on Iran: We won't allow a second Holocaust to occur
20:29 German museum displays Hitler's art online
11:58 Five Palestinians suffocate to death after Egypt blows up tunnel
12:59 N.Y. governor pays historic visit to orthodox synagogue for Sabbath services
17:31 Russian court finds Jewish oligarch living in Israel guilty on four counts of murder
15:37 Olmert questioned by police for fourth time in graft probe
13:47 Minister's granddaughter attacked by elephant after sneaking into safari after hours
05:35 VIDEO: Photojournalist reveals raucous 1950s Tel Aviv nightlife
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe
Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised.
MBA in Israel in English
APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Yossi Avrahami Presents:
New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat
Your vacation starts here
Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved