Contrary to the prevailing belief, abou 50-80 percent of children whose fathers beat their mothers are themselves victims of physical or sexual abuse at home.

Previously, such children were primarily thought to be witnesses to the violence and emotional victims, as opposed to targets of the physical abuse themselves.

The figures, which come from a review of current articles and studies, have been presented ahead of an upcoming Na'amat women's organization event to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which takes place on November 25.

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"The violence against the children is often what prompts battered women to seek help," says Yifat Carmel of the Tel Aviv-based Glickman Center for the Prevention of Violence in the Family.

In 2005, shelters for battered women and centers for the prevention of domestic violence handled cases involving some 2,000 children throughout Israel.

These children, Carmel says, are primarily scared, whether they are actual victims of the physical violence or witnesses.

"The family nucleus becomes a battleground for the two people who are closest to the children, instead of being the most secure place in the world for them," Carmel says. "It is also hard for them to understand how their father can be good to them sometimes, and also beat their mother or them."

One can begin to discuss the violence at home with these children from the age of four, when they can be told that their father loves them but has a problem when it comes to controlling his anger, Carmel says.

Positive changes in the children, she adds, can be seen after some three months of therapy, provided that the child is removed from the violent environment.

"If they remain on the battleground, their chances of recovery are very low to none at all. Our principal message to the mothers is: Seek help," Carmel notes.

"Apparently, when one speaks about battered women, one is also speaking about battered children, and women must see this as a warning sign," says Talia Livni, president of Na'amat Israel.