Jaffa high school principal arrested over allegations of indecent acts against students

A number of former students say head of school touched them in genital area; suspect’s associates insist accusations fabricated to ‘settle scores’ over teacher’s sacking

Police arrested a school principal in Jaffa on Sunday who is alleged to have committed indecent acts against several high school students over the course of two years.

The principal was arrested in his home on suspicion of sexual harassment by the Ayalon region’s crimefighting unit and transferred for interrogation, police announced. He was set to appear before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.

The suspect, a man in his 40s, allegedly harassed eight to ten students aged 17-18 years old, Hebrew media outlets reported.

He was arrested in wake of police complaints filed by the victims, many of whom have since graduated high school and are now adults.

Several of the students testified to police that the principal touched them in the genital area, according to the Walla news outlet.

Associates of the principal speaking to the Ynet news outlet on his behalf said the suspect “completely denies the allegation” and insisted the arrest will soon prove to have been “one giant mistake.”

They claimed that the affair had already been brought to the attention of the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality and welfare services several months ago and is “connected to a teacher who was fired from the school who found a way to settle scores” with the administration.

According to the 2024 annual report from the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, there has been a 30% increase in the number of sexual harassment or assault cases in educational settings.

Of the 51,000 calls received by various support centers, 68% of the cases referred to harm caused to the victim before they turned 21.