Israel Phil player is suspended on sex charge
mainIt has been reported this morning on Galei Zahal radio that a musician in the Israel Philharmonic has been suspended for sexual harassment of female colleagues. No further details have been given. A female contact tells us that the charge has substance. The man is considered innocent until proved guilty.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is taken very seriously in Israeli institutions. The country’s past president, Moshe Katsav, went to jail on charges of this nature.
Was former acting principal percussionist ayal rafiah. http://www.ipo.co.il/eng/About/Members/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%99%20%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%A9%D7%94/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%99%20%D7%A0%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%94/Musicians,260.aspx
He suspended for the remaining season and will be back playing as a full-time member in October.
He grabbed someones hair and tried to kiss them. It’s not the first time he’s been caught acting inappriately towards women in the orchestra.