Israel Closes Rape Case Against Musician Yuval Vilner Due to Lack of Evidence

The State Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday the closure of the case against musician Yuval Vilner, who had been suspected of raping Shi Li Atari and Naama Shahar. The decision was made due to insufficient evidence. Vilner's attorney, Moshe Weiss, welcomed the decision, stating, "We welcome the Prosecutor's Office's decision. There is only one truth, and the truth has come to light."

Shi Li Atari criticized the decision, asserting that "Israel teaches rapists where the loopholes are through which they can escape." In a full statement, she elaborated that the case was closed not because it was determined she was not raped or that Vilner was innocent, but because after years passed, the prosecution deemed there was insufficient evidence for a trial. Atari noted that cases involving suspected date rape drugs are particularly difficult to prove. She recounted the struggle to have the case reopened, and that witnesses were only located the second time after Vilner's lawyer had already obtained legal affidavits from them before they were called for questioning. "Years have passed, evidence has been compromised, mistakes have been made, and in the end, the victim pays for them," she stated, adding that a lack of evidence does not prove an offense did not occur, and memory loss is not proof of consent. She concluded, "If this is the system, Israel not only 'struggles' to prosecute rapists, it teaches them exactly where the loopholes are through which they can escape."

Naama Shahar also posted on Instagram against Vilner, calling him a "psychopathic serial rapist." She described a terrifying moment when his fingers were inside her and she didn't know what to do. During an interrogation, Vilner reportedly denied her account, claiming it never happened. Shahar questioned why she would invent something in her diary from four years prior, sharing an entry that read, "The chaotic handwriting translation - 'On that evening with Kinder's surprise fingers and calming down momentarily when I asked to stop, twice!' From my diary on 2.11.22. Yes. This can actually be written in your diary and still not be enough evidence to file an indictment. This is the system that is supposed to protect us." She sarcastically questioned what would happen to girls who fabricate stories in their personal diaries and hide them for four years.

The case began in 2022 when Atari filed a police complaint alleging Vilner raped her in 2011 when they were students at the Rimon School of Music. Vilner had accompanied Atari at the "Shiri-mon" competition that year. An investigation was opened, but the prosecution initially closed the case due to lack of evidence. Several months ago, the case was reopened based on new findings and additional testimonies. A separate case was added: Shahar complained that Vilner sexually assaulted her in 2022 after a night out at a bar. She claimed she felt unwell and asked to rest on his couch, but he persuaded her to move to his bed, where he allegedly assaulted her while she was not in full control and had partial memory loss of the event. Shahar suspected she may have been drugged, though police stated there was no evidence of this at the time. Vilner was arrested upon landing in Israel after a prolonged stay in Berlin. Investigators reportedly felt his confrontation with Shahar during questioning strengthened the suspicion against him, partly due to Vilner's own admission of "lack of synchronization" regarding consent. Atari had fought for Vilner's name to be published, which was eventually allowed. The prosecution has now decided to close the case.