Published: 24 August 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
HORRIFYING DETAILS ARE EMERGING about an alleged gang rape in an Eilat hotel last week of a 16-year- old girl. The prime minister called the rape “a crime against humanity.” Alternative PM Benny Gantz tweeted, “...I’ve been trying, and failing, to understand: What is a man who is standing in a crowded line with dozens of others, on the way to a room where a young, disoriented girl is lying down, trying to prove?”
The girl’s friend reportedly told investigators that one of the men even said he was “a medic and wanted to help,” and when he found that she was under the influence of alcohol, he raped her as well, according to Channel 13 news.
Reports have emerged that the girl’s emotional state is dire, with a team of experts supporting her around the clock as she gives evidence to police. The personal details of the girl have been spread on the web, including photos from her Instagram and Facebook account.
A gag order has now been placed on releasing her name, due to fear that the accused men from Hadera, or their family members, may try and pressure her into dropping the case, according to one news outlet. So far, seven men aged 17-27 have been detained for questioning, although there are reports that more than 10 men were involved. There is increased security around her home following what law enforcement said was an increase in “violent online discourse” against the girl over the case.
Haaretz journalist Almog Ben Zaki reported the shocking fact that days after the incident hit the news, that the top trending search on the Pornhub pornsite in Israel was the word “Eilat,” indicating the sick desire of far too many people to see the rape.
Hundreds protested against government policies on sexual violence across Israel on Sunday. The Tel Aviv protesters blocked roads around the square, and chanted: “No means no. What part of that don’t you understand?” “It’s not a mistake, it’s policy,” and “Stop, enough, blame the rapist.”
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One of the organizers of the protest, Moran Zer Katzenstein, said from the stage, “I had the luck to not be raped, but some of my friends were… I’m here in the name of dozens and hundreds of women who are saying, ‘Stop. Enough.’
“I’m not a speaker or an activist. This is the first protest I put together in my life. I don’t represent any organisation and tonight this is a personal gathering because we can’t bear to hear about more assaults or rapes,” she said, according to the Ynet news site.
Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Tzipi Brand said, “How is it that a 16-year-old girl was brutally raped right under our noses? The indifference of the system led to the destruction of a young girl’s life. We need to change everything — the language, the textbooks and the history books.”
The indifference of the system led to the destruction of a young girl’s life. We need to change everything — the language, the textbooks and the history books - Tel Aviv deputy mayor
The demonstrators are demanding a budget increase for programs combating violence against women, changes to the justice system, and better medical support for sexual assault victims, among other measures.
One of the most confronting signs held at the Jerusalem protest I attended on Saturday night, which ended up merging with the anti-Netanyahu protests on Balfour street, said: “Every rapist has a name,” playing on the famous Zionist song, “To each man there is a name,” which is often sung on memorial day.
Many women said, “it’s too hard for me to write,” as they saw the sign.
On Sunday, thousands of Israelis demonstrated and observed a symbolic work stoppage to denounce sexual violence against women. Channel 13 paused their scheduled programs for a moment at midday saying “we are interrupting this broadcast for the following minute to stand in solidarity with the victims of sexual violence. This violence cannot be tolerated. The time has come to say, Enough!”
What we can do as a society to prevent atrocities such as this. What can we do to help boys realise that communication, honesty and respect make sexual relationships better, and that asking for and obtaining consent shows respect for yourself and your partner while eliminating entitlement.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ropH_6_5uYs&t=4s[/embed]
There is such a discord between the boys who grow up to be a “mensch” and the boys and men who wait outside a 16-year-old’s hotel room. What home values, school education, youth movement or peer group helped form their world view, and how could we invest more in those spaces to help our boys grow up into the kind of teenagers we would hope them to be? The kind that can turn to one another and say, albeit awkwardly:
“That tweet you shared about teenage girls, it’s just not funny. I think you should delete it”
“She looks like they’re not that into you. I think we should just try chatting to someone else.”
“Hey, you know that video you posted? I don’t think it was cool of you to send that. Did she even know you were filming?”
The enormity of what needs to change in our parenting, our schools and in society in order to raise boys who can speak like this to one another is overwhelming, but not something we can shy away from. In the month of Elul, where we begin the process of ‘cheshbon nefesh’, a self-accounting for where we’ve gone wrong is a great space to start.
If there is any silver lining to the atrocity that took place in Eilat, and I’m not sure there can be any, I hope that the public outrage and cry of despair that has filtered through to the highest levels of government can start discussions, programs and actions that bring about change for the better.
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EDITORIAL: Israeli public is right to express outrage over Eilat rape (Jerusalem Post)
The police have set up a special investigation team to probe the severe allegations, which came to light after the teenager returned to her home in Ashkelon and decided to file an official complaint.
Israelis join half-hour strike over suspected gang rape of 16-year-old (Haaretz)
Protests planned for evening as activists say case is continuation of weak public response to previous ones
Tel Aviv removes peeping Tom mural seen as encouraging sexual harassment (Times of Israel)
A tribute to 1970s cult film, with image showing teenage boys peeking into women’s changing room at beach, has been defaced four times in two years by feminist activists
Hotel manager arrested for disrupting rape investigation (Jerusalem Post)
11 arrested for involvement, security chief of hotel blames victim
Photo: Protesters demonstrate against sexual violence, Tel Aviv, August 20 (Ofer Vaknin)
