Report: Majority of female Knesset members have experienced sexual harassment

Two MK's state that it has continued into their tenure while in the Knesset.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: JUNE 1, 2016 22:12
Merav Ben-Ari (photo credit: Courtesy)
Merav Ben-Ari
(photo credit: Courtesy)
At least 28 of the 32 female members of the Knesset reported being sexually harassed or assaulted, a Channel 2 survey found on Tuesday.
Two of the MK's that spoke of the assault stated that it has continued into their tenure while in the Knesset.
"When I was younger, right after I immigrated to Israel, there was a period when I wouldn't go outside because of all the harassment," said Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova.
 
MK Merav Ben Ari (Kulanu) explained that the harassment has continued into the present. "Even today, because I am a single woman in the Knesset, I am sometimes put in an uncomfortable situation," Ben Ari said.  "I don't want to go into details, but there was a recent situation in the Knesset and I took care of it," she added.
The survey was a part of a special Channel 2 news project that worked to bring awareness to sexual assault and female MK's were invited to describe their experience.
Interior Minister Silvan Shalom resigned this past December, amid accusations of sexual harassment from 11 women. Only a month earlier, in November 2015 MK Yinon Magal (Bayit Yehudi) resigned in light of sexual harassment allegations raised against him.
Lahav Harkov contributed to this article.