ISRAEL
Times of Israel
A number of IDF soldiers from Father Gabriel Naddaf’s Christian Arab community have filed formal complaints against the Greek Orthodox priest, saying he sexually harassed them, according to Channel 2 news.
Eyal Paltek, the soldiers’ attorney who filed the complaint with the Haifa Police, said, “There is no doubt that after this initial complaint, more will follow.”
The complaint followed just hours after the Haifa Police announced it was launching a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by the priest, who is an outspoken advocate of the integration of Christian Arabs into the Israel Defense Forces.
“Some of the claims have reached the police and they will be checked by professionals in the police investigations and intelligence unit as needed,” police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement on Monday, before the complaints were filed.
On Sunday, Channel 2 aired recordings and transcripts of conversations in which the priest appeared to promise to help unidentified young men in exchange for sexual favors. The report included claims from unidentified Palestinians that Naddaf had offered to help them obtain entry permits into Israel in exchange for the favors.
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