Tel Aviv resident charged with harassment, threats in extortion campaign against media professional

Prosecutors charged Tel Aviv resident Udi Ayalon, 48, on Monday with threatening a media professional’s career, reputation and privacy in an alleged campaign to force her to renew a business and personal relationship with him.

The indictment, filed in Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court, charges Ayalon with multiple counts of extortion by threats, violating a court order, harassment through a communications device and invasion of privacy, the prosecution said. 

According to the indictment, Ayalon produced paid lectures for the woman as part of a business relationship that later developed into a friendship.

Prosecutors allege that about two years into the relationship, Ayalon became dissatisfied with the amount of attention he received from her and began sending WhatsApp messages threatening to damage her livelihood and reputation. The woman subsequently refused to continue meeting him and asked to end both the business relationship and the friendship.

Ayalon then allegedly sent further threatening messages, published posts on social media and repeatedly appeared at her workplaces. The indictment alleges that he threatened to approach senior figures and colleagues at her employer and disclose information about her unless she resumed contact with him.

'I am going to be cruel at a level you never imagined'

“You have ended your career,” he allegedly wrote in one message. “I am going to be cruel at a level you never imagined.”

In another message cited by prosecutors, Ayalon allegedly wrote that his desire for revenge was driven by her refusal “to open a new page” with him.

The woman later obtained a restraining order prohibiting Ayalon from contacting or harassing her in any form. The court also issued a gag order covering the proceedings. The indictment alleges that Ayalon violated both orders.

Following the alleged violations, the woman filed a police complaint. Prosecutors said Ayalon continued threatening her during a confrontation conducted as part of the investigation, despite the presence of a police investigator.

“You do not know how dangerous I am,” he allegedly told her, according to the indictment. “You have something to fear.”

He also allegedly said: “I will continue doing what I want. I am not afraid of anyone. No one will tell me what to do.”

The prosecution has asked the court to impose restrictions on Ayalon for the duration of the criminal proceedings, including a prohibition on contacting, harassing or threatening the woman either directly or through other people.

During the earlier investigation, Ayalon’s attorney denied the suspicions and argued that his client was the victim in the dispute.