In the wake of the harassment scandal that rocked the Prime Ministers Office, Prime Ministers Bureau chief Natan Eshel bid an emotional farewell to his co-workers late Wednesday, returning to the bureau for the first time since being accused of sexually harassing a female subordinate. Under a plea agreement signed this week, Eshel has confessed to pursuing an inappropriate relationship with R., a bureau employee. Individuals who attended the late night farewell told Army Radio on Thursday that Eshel had even shed a tear when his successor, Gil Shefer, lauded his service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also met with R. on Wednesday to show his support. Throughout the month-long affair, R. has refused to cooperate with the investigation and did not press any charges. Youve been through a difficult ordeal, Netanyahu told her. Be strong. R., who is in charge of cultivating the Prime Ministers Offices relations with Jewish communities around the world, has asked not to accompany Netanyahu on his upcoming visit to the U.S. to address the powerful Israel lobby AIPAC. She said that her privacy could be compromised on the trip, surmising that the trip, set to include a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, would be covered extensively by the media. The scandal began when three senior PMO officials approached the attorney-general with suspicions of misconduct after R. confided in one of them. The three, chief spokesman Yoaz Hendel, Military Secretary Yohanan Locker and Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser, were harshly rebuked by the prime minister for failing to report the incident to him. Hendel has since resigned from his post. The prime minister explained Wednesday that he was angry that his top advisers had excluded him from the affair. If there are suspicions of harassment, the proper authorities must be immediately notified, the prime minister conceded. It must be handled, that is exactly what I would have done, taken the appropriate steps. Let there be no doubt. That is how it should be in any office. I have always taken that stance, and still do now. What wasnt appropriate, however, he added, was, in my opinion, that the head of the office, in this case the prime minister, didnt know that such a pivotal incident had occurred within his own bureau, for a month and a half no less, and had to learn about it from the television or the newspapers. I dont think that is how it should be. Netanyahu also mentioned Eshel, whom he considers one of his closest confidants, saying that it was difficult to see him go. This is a painful situation, Netanyahu said. It is uncomfortable and unpleasant. Earlier this week, Netanyahu censured Hendel and Hauser personally, telling them that he had lost his faith in them. Netanyahu met with Hendel again on Wednesday to accept his resignation. He appointed Liran Dan, formerly a spokesman and the head of the bureaus media department, as Hendels successor.
Eshel bids tearful farewell to PMO; Netanyahu rebukes his advisers
In wake of harassment scandal that rocked the PMO, Netanyahu says the head of the office, in this case the prime minister, should not have to learn of such a pivotal incident from the media."
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