Twenty-one former "wives" of cult leader Goel Ratzon filed a negligence lawsuit against the state this week, seeking 60 million shekels ($16 million) in damages from the Israel Police, Tel Aviv Municipality and the Justice, Welfare and Education ministries. The polygamous Ratzon is currently serving a 30-year sentence for rape and sex crimes against his "wives" and daughters. The plaintiffs claim authorities were aware of the sexual abuse in Ratzon's cult since 2000, after a private investigator found evidence of incest and the sexual abuse of minors. Authorities received repeated complaints but did nothing "to prevent the horrors." Ratzon was first arrested in January 2010. The plaintiffs further claim that the parents of one of the women contacted then-Justice Minister Yossi Beilin to request an investigation into Ratzon, but were told to speak to the Attorney General's Office. Attorneys Amit Hadad and Meir Avraham, who represent the women, added that similar requests were made to then-Education Minister Yuli Tamir, but nothing was done. Moreover, the police did nothing about the complaints, the argued. "The state's basic obligation is to ensure the peace, welfare, dignity, personal safety and basic rights of its citizens," the lawsuit said. "The authorities were negligent of their responsibilities." The state has yet to file its rebuttal argument.
'Wives' of jailed polygamous cult leader sue state for $15M in damages
Goel Ratzon is serving life sentence for sex crimes against "wives," daughters • Women claim state liable for negligence in the case, argue that law enforcement, welfare authorities knew about Ratzon's crimes since 2000, did nothing "to prevent horrors."
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