Former MK Colette Avital has alleged that former prime minister and president Shimon Peres sexually harassed her in the 1980s, Haaretz reported Thursday.
In an interview published in the Hebrew edition of Haaretz, Avital, who served as a Labor MK for seven years, testified that Peres “pinned [her] to the door and tried to kiss [her]” at the end of a meeting in 1984, during his time as prime minister.
In addition, Avital told Haaretz she was invited to his hotel room for breakfast while they were on a diplomatic mission in Paris, while Peres was opposition leader.
According to Avital, Peres attempted to push her toward the bed upon her entry to his room, and she resisted his attempts to do so before leaving.
Avital alleged that she reported the incident to Peres’s adviser and former deputy minister Yossi Beilin and requested that she not be left alone with him the next time he came to Paris, where she was then serving as a diplomat.
Rumors of a relationship between Peres and Avital circulated for years. Avital never married.
When he ran for president, she pulled out of the race to pave the way for his win.
A memorial service for the five-year anniversary of Peres' death took place this week. Avital was present.