Golan Cipel
Encyclopedia
Golan Cipel was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1968, and grew up in the city of Rishon LeZion.
Cipel served in the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) for five years as a naval officer, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. Following his service in the Israeli Navy, Cipel held several positions in government. He began his career in 1992 as Parliamentary Aide in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, where he was responsible for policy formation, as well as the drafting of legislation. In 1994 he joined the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Chief Information Officer at the Consulate General
of Israel in New York, where he was responsible for presenting the Israeli government perspective to the American media and public. In 1999, Cipel was appointed the spokesperson for the municipality of Rishon LeZion, Israel
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In 2001, Cipel returned to the United States to work on the New Jersey gubernatorial campaign of Jim McGreevey. Following the election, Cipel was appointed Counselor to the Governor, advising McGreevey on issues including political strategy, diplomatic affairs and Jewish community relations. He also served as liaison between the states's various security and law enforcement agencies and the Governor's office.
Cipel currently works as an independent marketing consultant. He holds a bachelor's and a master degree in communications arts from the New York Institute of Technology
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government. Cipel later moved to New Jersey in order to provide outreach to the Jewish community on behalf of McGreevey's gubernatorial campaign.
McGreevey eventually appointed Cipel as a Counselor to the Governor. He ultimately resigned in August 2002, taking a position at the public relations firm MWW.
Cipel's intention to file a sexual harassment
lawsuit against McGreevey in Mercer County
Court led to McGreevey's decision to resign as governor on August 12, 2004.
Cipel dropped the lawsuit after McGreevey resigned, stating that justice had been served.
According to Cipel, the press had distorted his history, transforming him from someone who had self-published a book of poetry at age sixteen into a "poet." He claims such distortions supported the story that McGreevey allegedly created and the press eagerly covered.
In his own words, Cipel claims he was one of many victims of McGreevey's sexual harassment, that he had "no romantic affair" with the governor, but rather was taken advantage of. He also describes the former governor's behavior as egotistical, unprofessional, immoral, and immature.
Cipel served in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) for five years as a naval officer, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. Following his service in the Israeli Navy, Cipel held several positions in government. He began his career in 1992 as Parliamentary Aide in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, where he was responsible for policy formation, as well as the drafting of legislation. In 1994 he joined the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Chief Information Officer at the Consulate General
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
of Israel in New York, where he was responsible for presenting the Israeli government perspective to the American media and public. In 1999, Cipel was appointed the spokesperson for the municipality of Rishon LeZion, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
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In 2001, Cipel returned to the United States to work on the New Jersey gubernatorial campaign of Jim McGreevey. Following the election, Cipel was appointed Counselor to the Governor, advising McGreevey on issues including political strategy, diplomatic affairs and Jewish community relations. He also served as liaison between the states's various security and law enforcement agencies and the Governor's office.
Cipel currently works as an independent marketing consultant. He holds a bachelor's and a master degree in communications arts from the New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational research university in New York City. NYIT has five schools and two colleges, all with a strong emphasis on technology and applied scientific research...
.
Background
McGreevey met Cipel while on a junket to Israel in 2000. Cipel was working as a public affairs officer for a municipalMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
government. Cipel later moved to New Jersey in order to provide outreach to the Jewish community on behalf of McGreevey's gubernatorial campaign.
McGreevey eventually appointed Cipel as a Counselor to the Governor. He ultimately resigned in August 2002, taking a position at the public relations firm MWW.
Cipel's intention to file a sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
lawsuit against McGreevey in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
Court led to McGreevey's decision to resign as governor on August 12, 2004.
Cipel dropped the lawsuit after McGreevey resigned, stating that justice had been served.
Cipel's version
In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz (August 19, 2004), Cipel stated that his situation was intentionally misrepresented by the governor's office and affirmed that he had never actually been responsible for internal security under the governor.According to Cipel, the press had distorted his history, transforming him from someone who had self-published a book of poetry at age sixteen into a "poet." He claims such distortions supported the story that McGreevey allegedly created and the press eagerly covered.
In his own words, Cipel claims he was one of many victims of McGreevey's sexual harassment, that he had "no romantic affair" with the governor, but rather was taken advantage of. He also describes the former governor's behavior as egotistical, unprofessional, immoral, and immature.