Sex harassment probe against ex-lawmaker closed

Cops say they were unable to gather enough evidence to show Yinon Magal, who resigned from Knesset, had committed crimes

The Tel Aviv district attorney’s office announced on Monday it had halted its investigation of former MK Yinon Magal, who resigned from the Knesset in November amid swirling claims of sexual harassment and indecent acts against women, after police said they had not found enough evidence to recommend an indictment.

Cops probed Magal, who was a lawmaker for the Jewish Home party, on suspicion that, before he entered politics, he had harassed female subordinates. During the investigation, police gathered testimony from women who had worked for Magal over the years, including when he was editor of the Walla news website.

As a serving Knesset member, Magal enjoyed immunity from investigations, hearings and legal proceedings that were unrelated to his work as a member of parliament. He lost that immunity when he resigned.

The journalist-turned-lawmaker, who is married, has been accused by four women of sexual harassment. Magal has apologized for his behavior, which he called “hurtful” but insisted wasn’t criminal.

“I made a mistake in my past conduct, which is even more unbecoming for the public official I am today,” Magal wrote in a statement in early December. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart to those who were hurt. I am determined to correct my behavior and also to repair things on the personal and family level.”

On December 1, two of Magal’s former employees said he had made lewd comments and unwanted sexual advances during and after the period that he served as editor-in-chief of Walla. Magal stepped down as the popular site’s editor in late 2014 in order to run for the Knesset.

The first public allegations surfaced that day in a Facebook post by Walla reporter Racheli Rottner, who said Magal had made a pass at her at his farewell party at the news website.

Hours later, a second Walla reporter, Or Shukrun, also complained that Magal “repeatedly stroked my behind, even after I asked him to stop,” an act that could be considered sexual assault.

In the days following, a third and fourth woman came forward with similar allegations against Magal.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.