New witnesses come forward in Rabbi Moti Elon trial

Prosecutors say 4 young men who studied under rabbi accused of sexual offenses have agreed to come forward.

Jerusalem District prosecutors are seeking to introduce new witnesses in the trial of Rabbi Moti Elon, who has been charged with two counts of sexual offenses against two underage students.

The trial is set to enter the stage of testimonies next week, and prosecutors have said that four young men who studied under Elon have agreed to come forward with new allegedly incriminating information.

The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between 2003 and 2005.

Elon, a charismatic and popular figure [who is the former head of Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem's Old City}, has denied any wrongdoing, and furiously dismissed allegations of inappropriately touching the students.

When allegations first surfaced in 2010 against the prominent rabbi from the national religious camp, Elon vowed to remain silent. The accusations rocked the national religious world.

In the following year, he issued an official denial, saying any physical contact with students such as a hug was innocent of any dubious motive.

In January of 2011, prosecutors recommended that Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein place Elon on trial for carrying out indecent acts on two minors.

The prosecutors passed on the recommendation to Weinstein after having come to the conclusion that the police's opinion that Elon should be tried was correct. The police investigation into allegations made against Elon were completed in August of 2011.