This is the Lehava activist suspected of sex offenses on 17-year-old
Yitzchak Gabai, who served time in prison after a 2014 arson attempt on a Jerusalem school, is suspected of sexual offenses against a 17-year-old.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated: JUNE 17, 2021 21:03Yitzhak Gabai (C), a member of the right-wing Lehava organization at the courtroom of the District Court in Jerusalem as he arrives to a court hearing on July 22, 2015, Yitzhak Gabai where involved in the arson attack on a Jewish-Arab school in Jerusalem on November 29, 2014.(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)
The name of the Lehava activist who is suspected of committing sexual offenses against a 17-year-old girl was made public Thursday.The man is Yitzchak Gabai, who served time in prison after a 2014 arson attempt on a Jerusalem school, according to Kan.Gabai admitted to committing the offenses against the girl during his interrogation, but said that he stopped his actions when the girl asked him to, according to Maariv.The offenses occurred around 10 months ago when the girl, a volunteer with Lehava, asked Gabai for help with an issue on her computer, according to an N12 report.Members of the organization who were made aware of the crime and wanted to bring it forward to parties inside Lehava claim that, at the time, "Ayala Ben-Gvir shut us down, arguing that [publicizing] it would hurt her [the girl's] shidduch prospects."Ayala Ben-Gvir insisted to N12 that "from the moment I was made aware of the situation, I advised that she go to the police. However, she was nervous to do so, and didn't want to go public, so I respected her wishes."The first time a complaint had been filed in any official capacity was when it reached the police.Though Lehava claims that the suspect had been banned from nearing the organization's premises, eyewitnesses told N12 that they had seen him after the incident took place.Gabai released a statement Thursday saying that he had "sinned" and apologizing."I did a terrible thing, hurting a daughter of Israel," said Gabai. "I apologized to her at the time and I apologize again.
"I apologize as well to anyone involved and anyone who was hurt."Indeed, when you do not follow Halacha carefully, problems happen. But the gates of teshuva are not locked, and you can always repent."Lehava responded to the incident saying that Gabai was fired the same day the incident became known to the organization."We advised the victim to file a complaint with the police and report the incident to her parents, but she vehemently refused and asked that we not report the incident to police," said the organization."Immediately after the incident, we made sure she had outside help from professionals, and we are sorry that there are those trying to harm the Lehava organization with lies and manipulation based on personal interests."
