Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., August 26, 2008 Av 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:22 (EST+7) 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

Daughter backs mom charged with abusing her 12 children By Ofra Edelman The adult daughter of a 54-year-old Ramat Beit Shemesh woman on trial for abusing her 12 children said yesterday that her mother is a "moral woman," and innocent of all the charges she is facing. "None of the things described in the indictment actually happened," she said. Advertisement The woman's daughter arrived yesterday with three of her adult brothers to testify at her mother's trial in Jerusalem District Court. Ramat Beit Shemesh is a mixed neighborhood of ultra-Orthodox, modern-Orthodox and secular Jews within the city of Beit Shemesh, located southwest of the capital. "She might have given a slap on occasion, but not what they're describing," said the daughter. "She was a warm, caring mother. She's being described as a 'Taliban mother,' because of the way she dresses." The defendant appeared in court fully covered from head to toe, including her face, and her attorney said her client's religious beliefs precluded her from answering the male judge directly. The indictment claims that the woman beat her children with blunt objects, and often locked them out of the house. It also states that some of the children allegedly engaged in incest while they were locked out, which the mother allegedly failed to report. The mother's lawyer, Orna Sabagh Aruati, said before the court proceedings that "the State Prosecutor's Office and the police put words in the children's mouths to incriminate their mother." "This is a witch hunt. They took the kids, who had never in their lives been questioned by police, and interrogated them," she said. "They threw serious allegations at them in order to get them to say horrible things against their mother." "My mother is a moral woman," added the accused woman's daughter. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bad company Madonna draws ire for picturing John McCain near Hitler during a recent show. Raw energy An unemployed Israeli ecologist has a solution to the fuel crisis and global warming.

Read & React Gilad Shalit becomes punchline for jokes in the Gaza Strip Responses: 104 ANALYSIS / On verge of Rice visit, Israel and PA far from peace accord Responses: 28 Akiva Eldar: Let settlers who refuse evacuation in peace deal stay in Palestine Responses: 51 Israel not planning to detain activists' boats leaving Gaza Responses: 28 More Headlines 00:09 Obama: World must press Iran before Israel strikes 00:57 Abbas: No peace until all Palestinian prisoners released 18:21 Rice arrives in Israel in bid to push forward Israel-PA talks 23:03 Israel foiled the Gaza blockade-busting boat 'provocation' - but who gets the credit? 23:44 Barak puts Tel Aviv apartment up for sale for NIS 40 million 00:52 Hitler and McCain: Madonna's photo montage angers GOP presidential nominee 23:19 Can an unknown Israeli save the world from ecological disaster? 23:48 Israel to shut Gaza border crossings following Qassam strike 23:45 Gilad Shalit becomes punchline for jokes in the Gaza Strip 22:47 Mofaz slams Livni for supporting release of Palestinian prisoners 00:46 As convention kicks off, Democrats say U.S. Jews will overcome fears of Obama 20:47 Syrian FM: No headway made in negotiations with Israel 22:34 Israel Bank raises interest rate for second time in a month 22:25 Democratic Convention Notes: Meet Chinese Jewish candidate Hank Eng Previous Editions Select Day 25 aug 24 aug 22 aug 21 aug 20 aug 19 aug 18 aug 17 aug 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com 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