The Israeli Independent Public - Abstract of the Inquiry Report - December 2021

Findings of the Inquiry

In the course of ten months (September 2020 to July 2021), 505 testimonies were submitted to the inquiry in person or in writing by survivors of child sexual abuse living in Israel and over 18 years of age. Twenty testimonies were submitted in Arabic, eight in English, and four in Russian; the rest were in Hebrew. The ages of the inquiry participants ranged between 18 and 83. The average age was 36 and the median age was 34. One fourth of the participants were under the age of 27 when giving their testimony. 87% of the survivors who submitted testimonies to the inquiry were women, and about 11% were men. In terms of religion, 88.4% were Jewish, 6.1% were Muslim, and 5.5% did not identify themselves with any religion. 57% of the inquiry participants reside in the center of the country and the Sharon area; 23% reside in the north of Israel, and about 19% reside in the south and the Shfela area (the Judean foothills). Most of the inquiry participants have a university education. The number of years of education ranged between 2 and 30; the average number was 14.8. About 25% of the participants had 12 or less years of education, and about 25% had a bachelor’s degree. About 11% of the participants shared that they were unemployed, and some shared that their only income was a government disability pension.

DURATION OF ABUSE

4%

25%

Unclassi ed Single incident Continuous abuse

71%

The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

18