ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi Zahav's attorneys: They're slandering him

• Date: 15 March 2021
• Author: Arutz Sheva Staff
• Published date: 15 March 2021

Meshi-Zahav, who was selected earlier this month for the Israel Prize in the field of Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society and the State award, has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least six people, both male and female.

The allegations first came to light in a report published Thursday by Haaretz.

According to the report, the six accusers claim Meshi-Zahav sexually exploited or assaulted them as far back as the 1980s.

Some of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged assaults, while others were adults.

One woman, Z., claims that she was raped by Meshi-Zahav when she was in her 20s.

Meshi-Zahav denied the allegations, claiming they were part of a smear campaign aiming to "settle accounts" with him.

"Publication of this article is an attempt to settle accounts with me and, regrettably, destroy me as a whole."

The Haaretz report, Meshi-Zahav said, "included vague and anonymous claims from decades ago."

"I want to clarify immediately, there is no truth to these reports. Ever since it was announced that I'd won the Israel Prize, I've been the target of various telephone threats. After my parents died, people called me and expressed joy over their deaths."

"People spit at me when I walked down the street. Threatening messages were sent. Unfortunately, that is part of the price I must pay for the path I have chosen."

Nevertheless, on Friday, Meshi-Zahav said he would waive the Israel Prize, and announced he would be stepping down as chief of ZAKA for the foreseeable future.

Ephraim Damari, attorney for Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, responded tonight (Monday, Mar 15th) to allegations against his client.

"Yehuda...