Teacher suspected of harassing student in Hod Hasharon
Police say conduct part of a pattern of behavior by instructor at other schools where he worked
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Police on Tuesday arrested a 44-year-old teacher from the central Israeli town of Hod Hasharon suspected of maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a 12-year-old student.
According to the police complaint, the teacher had repeatedly reached out to her to request she meet with him one-on-one.
Authorities opened an investigation, and quickly discovered that the teacher’s conduct was part of a similar pattern of behavior carried out at other schools where he taught. The suspect is believed to have transferred to a new workplace each time he thought he was in danger of getting caught, police said.
A police statement said that the Education Ministry has been notified of the arrest and that the teacher, who teaches Bible and geography, has since been suspended.
Last month, police arrested a substitute teacher at a school in northern Tel Aviv on suspicion that he had sexually harassed and assaulted at least 10 second-grade students.
According to reports, the teacher made a number of sexually explicit comments toward some of the girls and also is alleged to have inappropriately touched a number of them during a class. The incident came to light after one of the girls complained to her mother, who then told the principal, who informed the Education Ministry, which subsequently alerted the police.
The Times of Israel Community.