Australian Jews blast health minister candidate implicated in pedophile case

Zionist Federation of Australia publishes lengthy open letter to Netanyahu entreating him to reconsider nomination for United Torah Judaism head Yaakov Litzman, the current deputy health minister who is accused of helping a former Melbourne school principal evade extradition to face charges of sexually abusing three female students
i24NEWS|
PrintFind an error? Report us
Related Topics
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Australia's Jewish community lashed out Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recommended United Torah Judaism co-leader Yaakov Litzman to serve as health minister.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
    • Litzman, who is currently deputy health minister, is embroiled in a corruption case involving Jerusalem-based Malka Leifer, a former principal of an Melbourne Jewish school who is wanted in Australia on pedophilia charges.
    2 View gallery
    בנימין נתניהו יעקב ליצמן ישיבת ממשלה    בנימין נתניהו יעקב ליצמן ישיבת ממשלה
    Yaakov Litzman and Benjamin Netanyahu
    (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
    Israel Police has recommended that Litzman be charged with fraud and breach of trust for allegedly pressing ministry employees to produce a false psychiatric report for Leifer, claiming she is unfit to stand trial in order to block her extradition to Australia.
    Australia’s Jewish communities denounced the prospect of Litzman’s appointment to an important ministerial position, with the Zionist Federation of Australia publishing a lengthy open letter to Netanyahu entreating him to reconsider.
    Israel Police have also recommended that Litzman be charged with bribery for his role in preventing the closure of a Jerusalem restaurant owned by an associate that was found to be unsanitary.
    2 View gallery
    מלכה לייפר פדופילית הסגרה נאשמת פדופיליה אוסטרליה    מלכה לייפר פדופילית הסגרה נאשמת פדופיליה אוסטרליה
    Malka Leifer
    (Photo: AP)
    Leifer, a mother of eight children who ran the Adass Israel school for girls in Melbourne, is at the center of the civil suit.
    She escaped to Israel two days after details were revealed about 74 sexual offenses she allegedly committed against three female students. The school was also sued for not passing the students' complaints to the authorities.
    Leifer was informed of the complaints, which allowed her to immediately flee Australia. Several members of the school board helped Leifer to buy her ticket to Israel.
    3Comments
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    2.
    Litzman's complicity makes him a pedophile!
    12.31.19
    10
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    1.
    Just another proof of Netanyahu's insanity
    A closed minded orthodox rabi at the helm of one of the most significant portfolios, where in fact, a broadminded health professional should be doing it. This is just another proof of how corrupt Bibi is. For him is was always about saving his butt even if it means dragging the whole country down with him. I am at my wits end with this dictator, but even more so with his supporters who are nothing but a group of low IQ throwbacks. The likud was always about nepotism and self interest and while they collect their ginormous pay checks without doing anything, the average Israeli is slowly sinking into poverty and despair. Israel, once a great country turned into IsraHell.
    Soul| 12.29.19
    50
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    That guy already HAS been our health minister and as far
    as I remember wasn't doing a bad job either. His beard & hat doesn't scare me (after all, much of old medicine-knowledge came from/through Judaism), but the present timing is questionable. We must wait couple of months to see....:-)
    12.30.19
    03
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""