Carmel Mauda, the kindergarten teacher who allegedly forced children to eat their own vomit, tied them up against chairs and hit them, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on Thursday in the Lod District Court.
She was also sentenced to 12 months’ probation and a payment of NIS 400,000 to the parents of her victims.
Parents gathered and demonstrated outside of the courtroom during the sentencing.
“Happiness mixed with sadness,” one of the mothers said after hearing the verdict. “I am happy about a nine-and-a-half-year punishment to a cruel abuser, but I know it is not enough. I understand it sets a precedent and that any abuser will know that there is punishment in Israel for what they do.”
“Lynn you won. Dad fought for you,” said the father of another child who was abused. “But of course we still have so much to do, and there are other abusers who should be afraid right now.”
Mauda was arrested and charged in 2019 with child abuse. She faced 18 counts of abusing 11 toddlers who were under her care at her house.
Videos of Mauda allegedly abusing the children were shared on social media.
There are no laws or regulations in Israel for kindergartens or daycare centers for children up to three years old, said Anat Dayagi, founder of Parents for Infant Care, the group that organized demonstrations.
“So anyone can open up a kindergarten or a daycare center and do as they like,” she told The Jerusalem Post. “They can have 30 children and only one caregiver. There are no sanitation or safety regulations... so this is why the protests are happening in Israel.”
Mauda’s case was very extreme, but this is happening on a day-to-day basis, she said, adding: “We keep seeing it again and again.”
Ilanit Chernick contributed to this report.