Meretz's Zahava Gal-on
Meretz's Zahava Gal-onFlash 90

A senior official within the left-wing Meretz party has been indicted for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, the party confirmed in a public statement Tuesday.

The confirmation comes after weeks of rumors regarding the Meretz official, including a claim on viral media that “A senior Meretz official is sitting in jail for raping his friends’ 13-year-old-girl, and everyone in Meretz is visiting him to express their sympathy.”

The identity of the official, who was indicted earlier this year, has been barred from publication by a court order.

On its official Facebook page, the Meretz party claimed that the official had been suspended from his position pending the outcome of the trial, and denied that party members were visiting him “to express their sympathy” as has been claimed.

“About half a year ago, a senior official in Meretz was indicted for serious sex crimes against a minor. Once the charges had been revealed, and given how disturbing and serious they are, Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Galon requested… that the [official] be suspended from all positions he holds within the Meretz party. A few days later, the request was accepted and this person was suspended from his positions in the party.”

“There is no place in Meretz for people accused of such serious and shocking crimes.”