Tel-Chai Nation

A writer at Israel Hayom addressed the issue of spousal murder taking place and says the issue's not being dealt with properly:

Maisar Ottman was murdered yesterday in front of her children. The Haifa resident was a divorcee, just like 40 percent of women killed in incidents of domestic violence. The words she wrote and the testimony of her loved ones show that she was a lioness, a leader, a strong woman, and a loving mother. "Throw me to the wolves and I shall come back as leader of the pack," she wrote in a post on social media. Perhaps she was trying to lift the spirits of women undergoing the same tough experiences that she went through.

Every time I am approached by the family of a victim of domestic violence, I see that the victims, like my sister, Michal Sela, and like Maisar Ottman, were strong and powerful women. They were women who loved themselves and who refused to accept the murderous domineering of their partners. Unfortunately for Ottman, she was born at a time where the murder of women is seen as something that is predestined.

Imagine if 24 people were killed in terrorist attacks in the space of a year. The government would immediately convene and its response would be merciless. It would be the most urgent issue on the Knesset agenda. So why is it that when 24 women are murdered by acts of terrorism in their own homes that all we hear is idle chatter?

That's a very valid point. It's not just when jihadism occurs that there should be a political response. Even spousal assault has to draw a serious reaction. And that includes victims of Islamic spousal abuse, as the woman spoken of probably was too (if they don't mention the Religion of Peace), that's obviously a problem). So the political establishment is going to have to start getting serious about this issue too.

Labels: islam, Israel, Knesset, misogyny, sexual violence