Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein decided on Wednesday to adopt the state attorney's opinion to cease investigations against Energy and Water and Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud) over sexual harassment allegations. The attorney-general and state attorney cited the statute of limitations, based on the time that has elapsed since the alleged crimes. Weinstein's decision was also based on the findings of the preliminary investigation. Police were investigating allegations made by a former Science Ministry employee, who claimed that Shalom had sexually harassed her 15 years ago while he was the science minister, as well as information alleging that another woman was harassed by the minister. Because the case was based on allegations stemming back more than a decade ago, police had said that the case would likely be closed. A letter from the Justice Department on Wednesday said that due to the statute of limitations, even if an offense was proved, "it would not be possible to bring [Shalom] to trial."
