Silvan Shalom, Israel’s vice prime minister and also its interior minister, is stepping down from both posts and as a member of Knesset, he announced in a statement on Sunday. His resignation comes amid accusations from several women of sexual misconduct.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had announced a police inquiry into the allegations after consulting with the state attorney and the head of Israel Police Investigations and Intelligence Division.
According to Israeli media, nearly a dozen women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Shalom but none have filed formal police complaints, and no charges have been filed. According to Haaretz, a daily Israeli newspaper, one of the accusers used to work in Shalom’s office.
“During this past week, because of my hesitations and the hesitations of my wife, my children, and my elderly mother, I have cut short my path. My family is supporting me fully, but there is no justification to the price demanded of them,” Shalom said.
“For this reason, I decided to resign from my job as a minister and member of Knesset,” Shalom said. He is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.
Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes, Shalom’s wife and a popular radio host, tweeted: “Sad. But my children above all else.”
Zehava Galon, a politician from the left-wing Meretz party, posted a statement on her Facebook page:
“There is no joy in me about the resignation of Silvan Shalom. I would prefer that a person such as this would not be a minister in the government in the first place. But I have great pride and joy about the path we have taken, and hope that it will pass on the message to disturbed and violent men and will give strength and courage to additional women that have been wounded.”
Shalom has been a member of Knesset since 1992, serving in a number of different ministries, including science and technology, finance, foreign affairs, and most recently, the interior.