Knesset Members on a Rampage
Man, what is going on down at the Knesset. Between all the allegations of sexual harassment, fist fights and irresponsible vehicular activity you’d think Israeli Parliament was being run by a bunch of teenage boys. Its like they are pumping hormones into the water there or something. My favorite of the lot is Labor Party whip Yoram Marciano, this guy makes Steve-O look like a model citizen.
MK Marciano will apologize to guards after brawl
Labor MK seeks to reconcile with security guards at Herzliya nightclub after Wednesday night out ended in fistfight, police charges against him. Guards say they will accept apology
Knesset Member Yoram Marciano (Labor) plans to meet with security guards from the Rio club in Herzliya and apologize to them for the events of last Wednesday night. Marciano’s attorney, Navot Tel-Zur, told Ynet on Saturday his client is eager to resolve the matter with the guards involved in the incident. However, a security guard at the Rio club filed a complaint with the police over the incident. The guard stated that Marciano was inebriated when he assaulted the guard. Marciano was involved in a brawl with the guards while he was attending a birthday party held at the nightclub. Marciano reportedly attempted to leave through a closed exit and when the security guards prevented him from doing so he physically assaulted them. “This matter needs to end with reconciliation, an apology, shaking hands, a bouqet of flowers and maybe even a contribution to some organization” said Tel-Zur, adding that the meeting would be coordinated with the police. “This isn’t a case of corruption nor is it even a classic assault case. There was some friction, things got out of hand, what’s the point of making this into a scandal for a public figure?” said Tel-Zur.
MK Yoram Marciano caught shaving while driving, flees scene
Labor faction chairman pulled over for shaving while driving, tries to snatch citation forms from officers
Knesset Member Yoram Marciano was pulled over Thursday by Traffic Police volunteers for shaving while driving, and tried to snatch the citation forms from one of the volunteers.
Traffic Police spokesman Doron Ben-Amo told Ynet that the matter would be brought before the Knesset’s legal council to examine the possibility of filing charges against the MK for obstructing the work of an on-duty police officer.According to the officers, the Labor faction chairman, who made headlines a few months ago when he was involved in a nightclub brawl, was caught on road 44 near Ramla. They said that when the MK realized he was about to be slapped with a NIS 250 fine, he identified himself and proceeded to call the head of Knesset security. A short while later, Marciano attempted to snatch the citation forms and his driver’s license from the volunteers and then fled the scene.
Traffic Police spokesman Doron Ben-Amo told Ynet that the matter would be brought before the Knesset’s legal council to examine the possibility of filing charges against the MK for obstructing the work of an on-duty police officer.
MK Ziv to be questioned over sexual assault complaint
Pensioners Party activist files police complaint claiming Knesset member sexually harassed her. Head of Investigation Department decides to launch criminal investigation against Ziv. Yet another accusation of sexual harassment surfaced in the Knesset Wednesday, as a senior activist for the Gil Pensioner’s Party alleged that Party MK Yitzhak Ziv sexually assaulted her and continued to harass her.
The 62-year-old activist said that the attack took place at Ziv’s house weeks prior to the last election. As originally reported in Yediot Ahronot, the activist said that she had accompanied Ziv to his house, which was undergoing renovation work. She said that when they reached his bedroom the MK forcefully hugged her from behind, lifted up her shirt, grabbed her breasts and threw her down onto the bed.
The plaintiff said she tried to fight off her alleged attacker and eventually succeeded in slipping away from his grasp and fleeing the house.
Ziv has already issued a denial of the charges and has retained the services of attorney Zion Amir, one of the lawyers representing former President Moshe Katsav, to defend him.
“This is political revenge and I have no doubt that the truth will be revealed,” Ziv said.
The activist first discussed reporting the attack to police two weeks ago. She told Yediot that she had decided against filing a complaint after she saw what had happened in the Katsav case.
The woman told Yediot of the alleged attack two weeks ago, saying she intended to complain to police. However, she decided against filing the complaint, explaining: “What happened in the Katsav case reinforced my feeling that I should not complain since in the end, I will be excommunicated from society and he who hurt me will escape punishment.”
The 69-year-old Ziv serves as deputy Knesset speaker and is a member of the Knesset’s Economics Committee and Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. He is a widower, has three children and lives in Ramat Gan.
Since the 17th Knesset was sworn in, there have been several high-profile cases of sexual harassment including Katsav, Vice Premier Haim Ramon, and Labor Whip Yoram Marciano.
Also on Wednesday, MK Yitzhak Levy (NU-NRP) submitted a bill to the Knesset calling to ban any person convicted of a felony related to sexual harassment from being an MK, even if the felony does not constitute moral turpitude.
