Man Charged with Rape After Forcibly Entering Woman's Apartment in Petah Tikva

The State Prosecutor's Office filed charges on Monday against 22-year-old Adiel Eliyahu Michael Cohen from Petah Tikva, accusing him of rape and indecent acts. According to the indictment, Cohen met a young woman during a late-night walk with her dog, later presenting himself as a survivor of the Nova party incident to gain her sympathy. After she repeatedly rejected his advances, Cohen forcibly entered her apartment and committed sexual offenses against her.

The indictment, submitted by attorney Tali Karat from the Central District Prosecutor's Office, details that Cohen initially approached the woman during her walk, engaged her in conversation, and invited her to a nearby garden. Despite her clear refusals to physical contact, he held her hand, hugged her, and later took her phone to save his number. He then asked her to sit with him on the grass, where he touched her inappropriately and attempted to kiss her, which she rejected.

After returning home, the woman received another call from Cohen. Although she told him she did not want him to come to her apartment, he claimed to be a Nova party survivor, which moved her to agree to meet him briefly outside her building. However, Cohen had already entered her floor and forced his way into her apartment by blocking the door with his foot. Inside, he dragged a sofa to the balcony and placed an inflatable pool to shield their actions from view. He then forcibly engaged in oral sex and raped her despite her repeated resistance.

Following the assault, Cohen apologized and asked if she had enjoyed it. The prosecution requested to extend his detention until the end of the legal proceedings, citing the high danger he poses to the public and especially to women, given his disregard for the victim's refusals and the violent nature of his actions.