One of the big stories here is a sexual assault perpetrated by Ha’aretz columnist and author Ari Shavit, against US Jewish journalist Danielle Berrin.
It started with Ms Berrin writing an account of an “accomplished journalist from Israel” sexually assaulting her years ago. Even though she did not name the sleazeball, there were enough clues in the story to identify the likely culprit.
One person who could not was anti-Israel DouchebloggerTM Richard Silverstein (hat tip: Shlomi Ben Meir).
Yet after some of his readers clued in Mr Clueless to the perpetrator’s identity, he wasted no time blogging it, including this passage:
(http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2016/10/27/haaretz-columnist-best-selling-author-sexually-attacked-jewish-journalist-allegedly/)
Though Berrin refuses to name him, she offers enough clues that anyone with a passing familiarity with the Israeli media scene will know who her attacker was.
Which I guess excludes Silverstein.
Given all the chatter around Ms Berrin’s article and the pretty clear indicators as to Shavit being the sleaze in question, he wrote this preemptive non-apology in Ha’aretz:
“More than two and a half years ago, in February 2014, I met with Danielle Berrin in Los Angeles for a conversation. Today, I sadly understand that I misconstrued the interaction between us during that meeting,” Shavit said in a statement.
In an article last week in The Jewish Journal, entitled “My sexual assault, and yours: Every woman’s story,” Jewish-American journalist Danielle Berrin accused a prominent Israeli writer of sexually harassing and assaulting her as she tried to interview him in the recent past at an American hotel lobby.
In his statement, Shavit said that “prior to reading Berrin’s article, I thought that we had had a friendly conversation that included some flirtation.
“I did not for a moment think it involved any sexual harassment. But what I saw as flirtation, Berrin saw as inappropriate, even harassing behavior on my part.”
“As a person who deeply respects every woman and every human being, and as a person who abhors any form of sexual harassment, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for this misunderstanding. I did not mean to say anything unwelcome to Berrin, and I certainly never meant to cause her distress or hurt her feelings,” Shavit said.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.749578
Shavit does not explain how one could mistake “lurching” at Berrin “like a barnyard animal, grabbing the back of [her] head” and “pulling [her] toward him” as flirtation. Nor does he offer even a joke of an apology to his wife and kids. Here’s hoping Ha’aretz fires his sorry ass.
But re-enter Silverstein, who never misses an opportunity to bash Israel. And despite Shavit writing for a rag Silverstein may even find tolerable, he – true to form – finds a way to reflect this on Israelis.
(http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2016/10/28/haaretzs-ari-shavit-didnt-realize-pawing-sexual-assault)
Anyone who knows powerful Israeli men knows the type. I once sat in a room with Haim Ramon listening to him speak and thought he was the coldest, most supercilious fish I’d ever met. It didn’t surprise me in the least when he later forced his tongue down the throat of a young Israeli soldier in a government office, in an incident that virtually ended his political career. This, for those who dont’ know, is SOP (standard operating procedure) for Homo Masculum Israelicus.
—
If Shavit doesn’t pay a price for assaulting a fellow journalist, it will tell us a great deal about whether this predatory Israeli male culture is dying out or continuing to flourish.
Followed up by some extra chutzpah on top:
Readers: if I hadn’t published my post last night, Ari Shavit might not have copped to engaging in sexual assault today. I hope this reminds you of the critical role this blog plays in keeping the Israeli élite honest (or slightly less dishonest than they might otherwise be). Your support means a great deal. Please contribute what you can by clicking on the Network for Good (tax-deductible) or the Paypal badges in the sidebar.
Both Shavit and Silverstein are beyond the pale. Perhaps they should get together for a coffee.
