Prosecutors drop sexual assault charges against leading LGBT activist Gal Uchovsky

Investigation into 2 allegations of sexual assault ends after police say accusers were truthful but the acts were not criminal

State prosecutors on Thursday announced that they were dropping sexual assault charges against screenwriter and producer Gal Uchovsky, one of Israel’s most prominent LGBT rights activists.

Police opened an investigation into Uchovsky last November after the Kan public broadcaster published testimonies of two men who said Uchovsky had sexually assaulted them in recent years.

A third man later came forward claiming that Uchovsky assaulted him during a holistic treatment session 14 years ago, but since the statute of limitations had passed, police had recommended that prosecutors close that case.

All of the alleged victims spoke to Kan on condition of anonymity.

After the initial Kan exposé was broadcast, Uchovsky, a popular TV personality, apologized and said he would be stepping down as president of IGY – Israel Gay Youth, a leading nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ youth in Israel.

Prosecutors on Thursday said they decided to close the remaining two cases following a similar recommendation by the police, who said there was no indication of any criminal behavior on Uchovsky’s part.

“After examining the complaints in the case, it appears that even though the complainants’ testimony was found credible, the acts they testified to did not cross the threshold of criminality,” an official statement said.

Following the prosecutor’s announcement, IGY released a statement saying: “We will always believe the victims. We will always believe you.”