Palestinian jailed for pretending to be Jewish for casual sex

Image via Wikipedia

In Israel, lying in order to get your way into bed may be punishable with a jail sentence. A Palestinian who pretended to be Jewish in order to have casual sex with a woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Deliveryman Sabbar Kashur, 30, met an unnamed woman by chance in predominantly Jewish Western Jerusalem sometime in 2008. He told the woman that his name was “Daniel” and that he was “single and looking for a long-term relationship.”

Less than two hours later, the couple was sneaking into a nearby building for casual sex. According to media reports, Kashur left the building without waiting for the woman to get dressed.

Sometime afterwards, the woman found out that “Daniel” was really Sabbar. She went to the police shortly afterwards, falsely claiming that Kashur had violently raped her. Court proceedings went forward.

Eventually, even after the truth (so as it may) of the event transpired, Kashur accepted a plea bargain of 18 months in prison for “rape by deception” rather than risking a longer sentence:

Prosecutors acknowledged that the sex was consensual, but accused him of misrepresenting himself.

The court agreed, sentencing Kashur despite acknowledging that his case was not “a classical rape by force”.

“If she hadn’t thought the accused was a Jewish bachelor interested in a serious romantic relationship, she would not have co-operated,” the judges said in their ruling.

“The court must protect the public interest against sophisticated criminals with a smooth tongue and sweet talking, who can lead astray innocent victims.”

Thoughts:

1. It’s nice to know that “serious romantic relationships” can include having sex in an office building two hours after you meet. Just like in America!
2. If lying in order to get laid was a crime, half the men in America (and Israel) would be in prison right now.
3. Maybe the solution to the whole Palestinian-Israeli conflict is for the two sides to get together and have lots of Isratinian babies.

As for Kashur, his case is provoking a legal furor and will likely be taken to the Supreme Court.