Israeli Bar Association head resigns after being accused of sex crimes

Israel Bar Association head Avi Himi resigned Tuesday a day after accusations of sexual bribery were leveled against him.

According to Channel 13’s report on Monday, Himi allegedly masturbated in a video call with a female lawyer seeking his aid in securing a recommendation to become a judge. Himi reportedly indicated to Channel 13 that if he had such a relationship, it would have been consensual.

Labor Party leader noted that Himi “does not deny sexual acts with a woman whose professional fate was in his hands. Even if it is ‘consensual’ and he only ‘gave a recommendation,’ this is sexual exploitation and abuse of his power and position. All the more so if there was no consent. He should resign and go home.”

Should police investigate Avi Himi for sexual bribery?

Likud MK Moshe Saada went further than resignation, saying that in his “experience in investigating senior officials, the Israel Police should immediately open an investigation against Bar Association chairman Avi Himi on suspicion of sexual bribery in exchange for a judicial position. The purpose of the investigation is to confirm or refute the suspicions.”

Women’s lobby CEO Hadas Danieli Yelin said in a statement that they were “shocked by the allegations against attorney Avi Himi in the article that was published.”

She said that the incident “must be checked quickly until the facts are clear as is required in any case of harassment. No woman, in any role, should be exposed to sexual harassment and certainly not in the process of promotion and acceptance for a position in particular.”

Hagit Pe’er, chairwoman of the women’s rights organization Na’amat, said that anyone who allegedly takes advantage of his position should resign, and called for being against allowing politics to color the issue.

“It is forbidden for such issues to become a matter of Right and Left, supporters of a government or its opponents,” said Pe’er.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also called for Himi to immediately announce his resignation. The national security minister referred to Himi as someone who had “taken on the role of preacher of national morality in recent weeks,” which provided further imperative for “deep self-reflection” and resignation.

As head of Israel’s Bar Association, Himi has been a vocal critic of the judicial reforms proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin at the beginning of January.

The proposed reforms would remove Bar association representatives from the judicial selection committee.

Himi has made bombastic statements against the reform, likening it to the January 6 US Capitol riots on that event’s anniversary.

The incident alleged by Channel 13 is not the first sex-for-judgeship scandal for an Israeli Bar Association head.

In 2019, Efi Nave resigned after he was accused of promoting judicial candidates in exchange for sexual favors. He was suspected of having a sexual relationship with the wife of a magistrate judge who sought to become a district judge and a female lawyer who was appointed as a magistrate judge. The latter took an indefinite leave from the bench.

Himi and the Bar Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.