Report: MK Hazan sexually harassed employees at Tel Aviv bar

Likud lawmaker denies report aired on Channel 10; Meretz MK urges A-G to open criminal investigation into allegations.

JUNE 15, 2015 22:20

Likud MK Oren Hazan (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) — Likud MK Oren Hazan

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Likud MK Oren Hazan touched and grinded up against female employees of the bar he owned in Tel Aviv from 2011-2012, Channel 10 reported Monday.

The report featured Hazan’s former employees, whose faces were blurred and voices distorted, saying he would grab them by the waist, intimidate them into hugging him and rub his genitals against their backsides as he passed by.

They also said he would often get drunk, dance on the bar and lower his pants, showing his backside, and they were afraid to be near him when he was intoxicated.

They added that they did not complain about sexual harassment because they were afraid to lose their jobs.

The women explained that they decided to go public now, because Hazan is a Knesset member, and that they were unaware of the legal implications of his behavior.

Hazan denied the report, calling them “cheap, low accusations.”

After the report aired, MK Michal Rosin (Meretz) wrote a letter to Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein, asking him to open a criminal investigation into whether he sexually harassed and molested his employees.

Last week, Channel 2 news reported that, while managing a casino in Burgas, Bulgaria, Hazan would pimp out prostitutes and provide crystal meth to Israeli tourists.

Hazan denied the allegations and plans to sue Channel 2.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein suspended Hazan from his position as deputy Knesset speaker following the report.