Likud MK accuses senior broadcaster of sexual misconduct

Nava Boker says when working as a reporter she was promised promotion if she agreed to give ‘explicit’ favors to superior

A Knesset member from the governing Likud party on Saturday became the latest Israeli public figure to join the global #MeToo campaign, revealing two instances of sexual harassment against her when she worked as a journalist some 20 years ago.

Nava Boker told Channel 10 News that while working as a junior correspondent for the now-defunct Channel 1, a senior figure in the state broadcasting corporation made an “explicit and totally clear” move on her.

“When I was a reporter on Channel 1’s Mabat [the main daily news show], I very much wanted to advance,” she said. “I turned to the editor of one of the programs, and his proposal was explicit and totally clear.”

According to Boker, “he said that if I went with him to his apartment, etc., then I’d get whatever I wanted. I preferred to give up on the opportunity.”

Without giving details, she also said that later on in her career the owner of a newspaper she edited “sexually harassed her” and when she confronted him, told her that the paper was about to close so she couldn’t do anything.

“I gave up,” she said.

The #MeToo campaign, sparked by sexual assault claims against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, has seen women around the world share their experiences of sexual assault.

In Israel, sexual misconduct allegations have been leveled against veteran journalists Haim Yavin and Gabi Gazit as well as Alex Gilady, president of the Keshet Broadcasting group and Israel’s representative on the International Olympic Committee.