Suspect in Singer Yuval Dayan Harassment Case May Be Released to House Arrest

A 56-year-old man, suspected of harassing singer Yuval Dayan and violating a restraining order against her, may be released to house arrest if a guarantor can be found to secure his release. Judge Roey Peri of the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court made the ruling on Wednesday, stating that the case "certainly allows for release under conditions." The suspect's detention was extended until Thursday morning pending the finding of a suitable guarantor. The judge acknowledged reasonable suspicion of the offense and that violating the restraining order constituted grounds for arrest, but determined that restrictive conditions would suffice. The primary obstacle to his release is securing a guarantor.

Dayan addressed the case for the first time on her Instagram account, expressing her complex feelings about the violation of her sense of security. "I assume you've heard what I'm going through these days," she wrote. "The matter is being handled by the police, and I trust them, myself, and God that everything will be resolved and my sense of security will return soon." She also emphasized the boundary between public life and personal privacy, stating, "Despite being public figures, the personal space of each one of us is completely private, and the feeling is complex, but it's important for me to remember: each of us has a choice and the option to decide what is appropriate and what crosses their line."

According to the suspicions, the accused repeatedly attended Dayan's performances and filmed her. He also traveled to Ashdod to try and meet her at her synagogue. After being investigated and released with a restraining order, he returned to another performance hours later, sat in the front row, and filmed her, leading to his rearrest. During Wednesday's hearing, police representative Sergeant Major Nir Malka requested an extension of detention to complete seven investigative actions, arguing that the suspect's release could disrupt five of them. The defense attorney argued against the charges, questioning whether the actions constituted harassment or stalking given Dayan's public profile and social media activity. She also claimed the suspect was not clearly informed of the restraining order's conditions, which is why he attended another performance. The defense's request to ban the suspect's name was denied, but details regarding his medical and mental state were prohibited from publication. The judge criticized the investigation's progress, demanding its completion by Thursday.