Former OC Military Intelligence Brig.-Gen. (res.) Uri Sagi dropped out of the
Labor primary race because of sexual harassment allegations, he admitted on
Thursday.
“Yesterday, I was told there are rumors, and I found myself in
a situation where I cannot respond, because I don’t know who said what and what
their motives are,” he said.
A woman approached Labor chairwoman Shelly
Yacimovich this week and told her Sagi sexually harassed her nearly 40 years
ago, Channel 2 News reported on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday afternoon,
Labor sent out a message that Sagi was withdrawing from the primary for “reasons
of family health.”
Sagi told Army Radio that no one told him to quit the
primary, and would not comment on Yacimovich’s actions.
“Everyone deals
with conflicts in the way he or she learned from experience,” he said. “I have
my own way to deal with crises.”
The former Labor candidate said he was
sure similar incidents had occurred with other aspiring
politicians.
“Cheap politics like this prevents capable people from
participating, and people who don’t have much to offer run,” Sagi
said.
The list of Labor primary candidates was finalized late Monday
night, with 83 in the running, 13 of whom were specially authorized by
Yacimovich, because they had not been Labor Party members long enough to run
without her doing so.
“The large number of candidates shows faith in the
party,” Labor Secretary-General Hilik Bar said. “I was excited to see how people
from all population groups, districts, sectors and religions in the State of
Israel submitted candidacy, which shows that Labor led by Yacimovich speaks to
varied segments of Israeli society.”
On Thursday, Labor Knesset faction
chairman Isaac Herzog was appointed head of the party’s election staff. He will
begin campaigning after the primary on November 29.