Israeli Man Charged with Multiple Sexual Assaults and Threats Against Ex-Partner

The Central District Prosecutor's Office filed a criminal indictment on Monday against Eli Peretz, 52, from Netanya, accusing him of multiple sexual offenses, violence, and threats against his former partner. The indictment, submitted through attorney Tali Karat, includes charges of repeated rape, assault, and intimidation. A request to keep Peretz in custody until the end of legal proceedings was also filed.

According to the indictment, the couple was in a relationship, but when the complainant sought to end it, Peretz allegedly became obsessively jealous and controlling. He repeatedly demanded she cut ties with her friends and social worker, forbade her from speaking with friends about him, and prevented her children from meeting with friends' children. He suspected her of having relationships with other men and frequently called her during the 2026 World Cup while in the United States, demanding video calls to prove she was not hosting men.

The indictment details several instances of rape despite the complainant's explicit refusal. On June 8, while in bed together, Peretz forced himself on her, claiming they had not been intimate for a long time. Another incident occurred during a couple's vacation in Bucharest in February, where he raped her multiple times despite her protests and physical pain. On one occasion, she escaped to the bathroom and locked herself in, but Peretz broke in twice with a knife, forcibly raped her again while she was showering, and ignored her refusals.

Additional charges include an April 26 incident where Peretz violently assaulted the complainant during an argument, forcibly turning her on the bed and committing an act against her will. The indictment also accuses him of various threats and violent acts, including breaking a glass, threatening to take her property and evict her and her children, demanding her jewelry, and physically striking her while driving.

After the complainant sent a text ending their relationship and requesting no further contact, Peretz allegedly returned early from the U.S. and went to her sister's and mother's homes demanding her whereabouts. When refused, he attempted to look inside the sister's home. The prosecution argues that Peretz's obsessive and dangerous behavior forced the complainant to hide for her safety and requests he remain in custody throughout the trial.