Daughter of Far-Right Israeli Minister Orit Strook Accuses Parents of Sexual Abuse

Israeli courts and/or police have slapped a gag order on accusations by Shoshana Strook, the 38-year-old daughter of far-right Orthodox MK and minister, Orit Strook, charging the latter with sexual abuse. She alleges that both parents filmed what she calls “sexual rituals,” exploiting her and offering the videos as child pornography. Separate parties, one of whom she names, obtained the videos and threatened her with exposure. She claims that criminal elements, perhaps associated with the threats, have attempted to blackmail her.

As you’ll read below, she has called on the police to protect her. In addition, she views going public as another means to protect herself. It is a shocking scandal, not least given that the mother is a leader of the settler caucus in the Knesset and is an ultra-Orthodox Jew.

Shoshana initially fled to Italy after the threats began. But she returned and filed a criminal complaint against her mother and father. Israeli media may not publish her name or any particular case. They may not even refer to reports in foreign media (like this post). Nor may any Israelis link to such reports on social media platforms. I’m hoping there are Israelis willing to violate this flagrant abuse of freedom of the press.

Whenever I publish a story about Israeli sexual abuse victims, as I have many times, invariably some Israeli will grow righteously indignant that I’ve violated a gag order (which has no validity outside Israel) and defamed the accused, as if they are somehow the victim. To all those I say: “Beleive her!”

The original sex abuse report was posted by Israeli social critic and gadfly, Daniel Amram. He too could not name MK Strock or her daughter. After he published his story, she published a video on her Facebook account identifying herself as the victim. Needless to say, she too is violating the gag order. It will be interesting to see if the police and Facebook take it down.

The police have not filed any charges against the parents, though it began an investigation last month. It claims the delay arises from the sensitivity of he charges and the minor status of the victim.Whenever I publish a story about Israeli sexual abuse victims, as I have many times, invariably some Israeli will grow righteously indignant that I’ve violated a gag order (which has no validity outside Israel) and defamed the accused, as if they are somehow the victim. To all those I say: “Beleive her!”

Whenever I publish a story about Israeli sexual abuse victims, as I have many times, invariably some Israeli will grow righteously indignant that I’ve violated a gag order (which has no validity outside Israel) and defamed the accused, as if they are somehow the victim. To all those I say: “Beleive her!”

There has never been such a scandal involving an MK accused of distributing child pornography and sex trafficking. Charges against an ultra-Orthodox MK make the case even more scandalous.

Gag orders have no place in any society claiming to be a democracy. They shield the powerful and criminals from public exposure and accountability. They are routinely abused to protect perpetrators and avoid accountability. Tikun Olam routinely violates such oppressive regulations (which have no standing outside Israel) in the interest of transparency, freedom of information and the press.

MK Strook is one of the most extreme members of the Knesset and a sweetheart of the settler movement. She is a Palestine denier, and even nonsensically claimed there could not be a Palestinian people because there is no “P” in Arabic. She also said that eliminating Hamas was more important than freeing Israeli hostages.