Israeli Author Amos Oz Accused of ‘Sadistic Abuse’ by His Daughter

In her recently published memoir, Something Disguised as Love, children’s author Galia Oz accuses her father, the famed author Amos Oz of “sadistic abuse”, which she suffered from throughout her childhood. While her family have refuted her claims, Oz writes: “In my childhood, my father beat me, swore and humiliated me. He dragged me from inside the house and threw me outside. He called me trash. Not a passing loss of control and not a slap in the face here or there, but a routine of sadistic abuse. My crime was me myself, so the punishment had no end. He had a need to make sure I would break.”

Amos Oz was one of Israel’s most notable writers, having published over 40 books, which have been translated into 45 languages. He received many coveted awards, including the Israel Prize, the Goethe Prize, and the Franz Kafka Prize. Following his death in 2018, The New York Times described him as “Israel’s most prolific writers and respected intellectuals.”

In a series of posts on Twitter that included her brother and mother, Galia’s sister Fania Oz-Salzberger wrote: “Today, Galia Oz launched a new book hurling serious allegations against her father, Amos. Also against us, her mother and siblings. We have known all our lives a very different Amos, a warm and affectionate man who loved his family deeply and gently.

“He devoted heart and soul to us. The vast majority of Galia’s accusations against Amos squarely contradict our three lifetimes of loving memories of him. 7 years ago Galia summarily cut all ties with us. Shortly afterwards, her allegations were extended to include us too.

“To his deathbed, Amos tried and hoped to talk with Galia again, to listen, to understand, to grasp even the claims that contradicted reality as he and we saw it. Galia’s pain is palpable and heartbreaking. But we remember differently. Astoundingly differently. Nili, Fania, Daniel.”

As part of a long post on Facebook, Galia’s brother wrote that his father “wasn’t an angel, just a human being. But he was the best man I ever had the privilege of knowing. In contrast to us, my middle sister Galia remembers that she experienced tough parenting and abuse from our father. I’m certain – that is, I know – there’s a kernel of truth in her statements. Don’t erase her. But don’t erase us, either.”

As The Guardian reports, in an interview with radio station Army Radio, writer Yehuda Atlas, a friend of Galia, stated he was aware of the stories, saying: “It’s difficult for us leftists, Amos Oz was our golden prince, but it seems even the moon has a dark side.”