Haifa Court Sentences 79-Year-Old to 24 Years for Sexual Offenses Against a Minor

The Haifa District Court on Thursday sentenced Arie Gotlib, 79, to 24 years in prison after convicting him of serious sexual offenses against a minor committed between 1997 and 2001. The victim was about 11 years old at the start of the period, shortly after she immigrated to Israel with her family.

According to the court, Gotlib exploited the family’s trust and the shelter they gave him to abuse the girl repeatedly over a long period. He denied the accusations throughout the proceedings, but was convicted after the court heard the evidence and testimony.

In sentencing, the judges noted that many years passed before the complainant found the strength to file a complaint. They said the harm she suffered still follows her and continues to affect her life. The panel also considered Gotlib’s personal and medical condition, including his health problems, but said the severity of the crimes required a substantial prison term.

Sophie Granit, who represented the victim through the Legal Aid Division of the Justice Ministry, said the ruling was a “clear and significant recognition” of the severe harm and the courage required to expose it. She said the court fully accepted the complainant’s testimony as credible, consistent and reliable, and stressed that the verdict shows a conviction can rest on the testimony of a single sexual assault complainant when the court finds it trustworthy. Granit added that the decision also matters for other victims who struggle for years before reporting abuse, and that “the passage of time does not eliminate the possibility of reaching the truth.”