Allegations of Ritual Abuse Against Minors Surface in Israeli Knesset Hearing
Jerusalem – June 2025 | Ynet (via Profile News) —
An extraordinary joint hearing held by the Knesset Committees on the Advancement of the Status of Women and on Children and Youth has brought forward testimonies alleging the existence of organized ritualistic sexual abuse targeting minors in Israel during past years.
Several women shared what they described as “deeply disturbing personal experiences,” claiming they had been subjected to systematic abuse since childhood by individuals and groups allegedly linked to influential institutions, according to Israeli news outlet Ynet.
Public Figures Implicated in Survivor Testimonies
Yael Ariel, one of the survivors who testified before the committee, alleged that doctors, educators, police officers, and both current and former members of the Knesset were named in other survivors’ testimonies as alleged perpetrators. Ariel stated she had endured ritual abuse from the age of five through her early twenties and mentioned that a formal complaint she filed with the police was later closed without further action.
Knesset Member Pnina Tamano-Shata, Chair of the Committee on the Advancement of the Status of Women, described the testimonies as “alarming,” noting:
> “We are seeing serious gaps in how authorities handle these types of crimes. There appears to be a reluctance to engage with such sensitive and complex cases.”
Civil Society Calls for Institutional Response
Naama Goldfarb, Director of the non-governmental organization Lo Omdot Me’neged (“We Will Not Stand Idly By”), reported submitting written statements to law enforcement containing the testimonies of five women. These accounts, she said, described “group-based sadistic abuse against children involving symbolic rituals, filming, and the use of narcotics.” She added that she had yet to receive any official response.
Additional testimonies were heard during the session, including accounts from survivors who claimed to have experienced psychological and physical trauma as a result of abuse from a very young age. Some also alleged that their children had been subjected to similar incidents.
Official Response: Investigations Ongoing
In response to the hearings, Anat Yakir, Deputy Commissioner and Head of the Victims and Family Crimes Division, stated that the matter is under review “at the highest levels,” with a national unit dedicated to handling such cases operating under the intelligence division.
Knesset Member Naama Lazimi emphasized that parliamentary committees will continue oversight efforts and will request detailed reports from the Israeli Police, State Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Welfare, and Ministry of Education. “This is a matter of national concern that directly impacts public safety and must be prioritized accordingly,” Lazimi said.
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