A top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he was taking a leave of absence amid an uproar over allegations of sexual misconduct.
David Keyes, Netanyahu's spokesman with the foreign press, issued a statement saying that "in order not to distract from the important work of the prime minister, I have asked to take time off to clear my name. I am fully confident that the truth will come out."
Julia Salazar, a candidate for New York's state Senate who won her district's primary on Thursday, accused Keyes of sexually assaulting her five years ago. Others have since come forward. Wall Street Journal reporter Shayndi Raice tweeted she too had a "terrible encounter" with Keyes. She described someone who had "absolutely no conception of the word 'no.'"
The New York Times on Thursday reported that The Wall Street Journal's then-opinion editor Bret Stephens had barred Keyes from entering the office in 2013 after he reportedly repeatedly propositioned female members of his staff.
According to the report, Stephens reprimanded Keyes for his behavior, calling him a "disgrace to men" and "a disgrace as a Jew."
Stephens said he contacted Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer in November of 2016 to warn him about the risk Keyes posed to female government employees after an Israeli reporter inquired about him.
Keyes has denied the allegations, saying all "are deeply misleading and many of them are categorically false."
At least four female Israeli lawmakers called on Netanyahu to suspend Keyes after the allegations surfaced earlier this week.
The lawmakers called on Netanyahu to intervene and condemn the alleged actions by Keyes, saying his spokesman could not be effective as he battles the allegations.
Netanyahu's office has not commented on the matter.
Kulanu MK Merav Ben Ari said it was "unreasonable" that Keyes remained in his position.
Meretz MK Michal Rozin said Keyes can no longer represent Israel to the world. She said Netanyahu's silence thus far could also be interpreted as tolerance of the alleged acts.
Keyes has served as Netanyahu's spokesman to the foreign media since 2016. He is considered a close aide to the prime minister and deeply involved in Netanyahu's social media policy.
