Disgraced mayor’s lover denies he named street for her
Or Yehuda’s David Yosef also accused of sexually harassing a woman as she mourned her uncle’s death
As the intrigue surrounding disgraced ex-mayor of Or Yehuda David Yosef continued to unravel, his mistress admitted Monday that her lover had nicknamed her “Bali,” but denied claims that Bali Street in the Tel Aviv suburb was named after her.
Yosef was charged on July 14 with 25 counts of misconduct, including sexual harassment, theft, fraud and obstruction of justice.
The woman, who was identified by the initial H., said in an interview with Channel 10 that Yosef had named the street after a local resident of Or Yehuda.
“I think he is a teacher or coach, I am not sure what his job is, and his name is Nissim Bali,” she told the interviewer, her face blurred and voice distorted to protect her identity.
According to the indictment, Yosef told his mistress that “he would give her his entire life, and name a street after her.”
Israeli news site Ynet reported that the late Bali had in fact been a well-loved sports teacher in Or Yehuda, while other reports said he was a locally famed musician.
Curiously, Yosef is reported to have had Bali’s death certificate hanging on the wall in his office.
Yosef’s lawyer, Avi Odiz, dismissed claims that the street was named after the woman as “ridiculous, populist and ludicrous,” Ynet reported.
Although H. claimed that Yosef was popular among women and that “they would a always flirt with him,” police sources told a different story.
In one case, the mayor allegedly sexually harassed a young woman at a prize ceremony for an education award. The report said that Yosef approached her as she was eating corn on the cob, whispering, “Can I be a replacement for that corn you’re eating?”
Yosef also allegedly made sexually explicit advances at a shiva — the Jewish week-long mourning ceremony for relatives of a deceased person — at the niece of the deceased. When she rebuffed him, he continued to verbally harass her.
Yosef was accused of instilling an “atmosphere of terror… in order to silence the people surrounding him” and prevent them from speaking out about his conduct.
H. decided to come forward after her identity was revealed and a racy photo of her was posted on the Facebook page of an unnamed Or Yehuda resident Sunday morning.
“I have no privacy. People on the street stop me, asking, ‘You’re Bali, right?'” she said.
According to the Ynet report, the relationship between Yosef and H. lasted for three years and was consensual.
The ex-mayor is accused of exploiting his authority to conduct illicit sexual relationships with female subordinates, and stealing municipal property in order to reward them – including computers, gift cards and even cash.
Many of the alleged victims who were part of the investigation were scared to testify against Yosef, and some asked police to withdraw their complaints out of fear.
It was not clear if H. is still in contact with Yosef, who is married and has two children.
Daniel Bernstein contributed to this report.
