Last year, Adi Guzi helped save her neighbor Shira Isakov from being murdered by her husband. Now she wants to help other women who are subject to domestic violence.
The two were among the honorees at Wednesday’s official torch-lighting ceremony, held annually at the start of Independence Day.
Guzi came to Isakov’s aid in September as her husband allegedly stabbed her 20 times and beat her in the presence of their child. Isakov’s husband, Aviad Moshe, was indicted for attempted murder over the assault, which occurred at their home in the southern town of Mitzpe Ramon.
“I lit [the torch] for women whose voice isn’t heard. Women sitting in the prison that is their homes. Let them see there is a way to get out of there,” Guzi told Channel 12 news during an interview Thursday.
Looking forward, Guzi said she plans to return to managing a gas station, but also hopes to address domestic violence and violence against women. Asked how, she said she would reach out to lawmakers.
“I have a lot of things, so many ideas. I was at this incident by chance,” she said. “This was a shocking incident, but I was there and today in retrospect I know the signs.”
Guzi implored Knesset members to meet with her on the issue.
“There are so many things to do, so many things to talk about — budgets, punishment, enforcement, legislation. I only want to be given the opportunity to talk about this,” she said.
Isakov — who recovered from critical injuries in the assault, and went on to publicly share her story on Israeli television — has been lauded for her efforts to raise awareness of domestic violence. Her case followed several high-profile murders of women by their partners, which sparked an outcry in Israel and calls for more government funding to combat domestic violence.
Last year, 25 women in Israel were killed by their domestic partner or someone close to them.
Related posts:
Views: 0