The Gang Rape in Eilat Is Not the Exception Israelis Think It Is

Midday in late August, Israel’s Channel 13 TV stopped broadcasting and instead flashed the words, "We are interrupting this broadcast for the following minute to stand in solidarity with the victims of sexual violence.” Nationwide, organizations in the public, private and business sectors stopped work at noon for a full half-hour strike. That evening, thousands demonstrated throughout the country against sexual violence. A few days later, the municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa permanently removed a mural of two "peeping Toms" in bathing suits peering into the women's changing rooms at a public beach. The beach is named Peeping, after a cult beach movie filmed there in the 1970s, which includes scenes of men looking into the women's changing room. (The name of the beach isn't up for change.) In an outburst of shock, rage and disgust, the Israeli public is...

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