Published: 24 May 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
In recent years, the exception to this rule has been the case of Malka Leifer. The former Haredi school principal from the Gur Hasidic community is wanted in Australia on 74 charges of child sexual abuse against female students at the Adass Israel School in Melbourne.
As the legal struggle to bring her back to face justice clocks up its 51 court date, leaders of the all the establishment Jewish and Zionist groups in Australia have publicly called for the wheels of justice to turn faster in Israel.
MK Yaacov Litzman, leader of the United Torah Judaism party, is Deputy Health Minister and like Leifer, is from the Gur Hasidic community. Litzman’s party won eight seats in the recent national election and he wants to stay in his position.
Before the elections on April 9, Litzman was taken in by police for questioning over allegations he attempted to obtain false medical papers to prevent the extradition to Australia of an accused paedophile. At the time, Jerusalem's deputy mayor called on Litzman to step down during these interrogations which occurred over multiple days. Litzman ignored these calls, and on election day his party received an incredible 2 per cent swing.
A month after the elections, Channel 13’s Hamakor program reported on the intervention by Litzman and his ministry on behalf of at least 10 convicted sex offenders. One of them was Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Rata, who committed horrific sex crimes against a girl, starting when she was eight and ending when she turned 18. She courageously testified, and Rata received a 16-year prison sentence. Litzman was involved in the case, before and after becoming Deputy Health Minister, including pressuring psychiatrists who were instructed by the court to assess Rata but also reported to him.
Litzman responded to the Channel 13 report by running several TV ads where he said: “There is no forgiveness for sex offenders, who belong in prison.” But Litzman told the psychiatrists that injustice was done to Rata and lobbied for longer parole. His efforts led to a rare clash between the ministry and the Israel Prison Service. Litzman also oversees a number of psychiatrists who are key witnesses in the Malka Leifer case.
Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker asked, “Shouldn’t Litzman be barred from being able to influence all the witnesses who are likely to decide his fate?” The Australian Jewish community should be asking the same question. Litzman remaining in the Health Ministry is a slap in the face to the many Australians Zionists who support Israel through thick and thin. For the sake of keeping good relations between these two countries and for the sake of justice, Litzman must go.
See also: https://www.timesofisrael.com/deputy-minister-accused-of-protecting-sex-offenders-in-at-least-10-cases/
Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
