Maj. Gen. Bar-Lev's denies accusations made against him; complainant announces national campaign to support sex crime victims.
Major General Uri Bar-Lev was interrogated for more than seven hours on Wednesday, answering questions regarding the two complaints of sexual offences that have been made against him.
Bar-Lev underwent a polygraph test and was asked questions about an encounter with M. and S. that occurred in a Herzliya hotel five years ago, and about an incident involving O. that occurred in Eilat two years ago.
While connected to a lie-detector, Bar-Lev admitted that he engaged in sexual acts with the complainant M., but denied her claims that he had drugged her. S., a former friend of M., confirmed Bar-Lev's claim that M. had arrived at the hotel of her own free will.
O., the woman who accused outgoing director general of the Public Security Ministry, Hagai Peled, and police Maj. Gen. Uri Bar-Lev of sexual assault and harassment, announced plans to wage a public campaign calling for more protection against victims of sex crimes.
In a meeting with women who offered their support in recent days, O. said that her position as a "well-connected member of the establishment" gave her the "strength that other women do not sufficiently possess to come forward."
She said she will now make an effort to "leverage her position in the hopes of putting forth a plan that would offer protection to sex crime victims."
O. said that legislation is needed to limit media reportage of details and accusations about the private life of sex crime victims, similar to the stories that have been published about her past relationships.
"We must formulate a plan that would give victims of sex crimes the legitimacy to come forward," she said. "Society must protect these women and not turn them into punching bags."
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