Rape Allegations Force Israel’s President To Take Leave Of Absence From Office
A major scandal is unfolding in Israel, and it’s already having internal political repercussions:
Israeli MPs today approved a request by the country’s president, Moshe Katsav, to temporarily step down from his post while he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault.The Knesset house committee voted 13-11 to declare Mr Katsav “temporarily incapacitated” ahead of a decision by prosecutors on whether the president will face charges.
The parliamentary speaker, Dalia Itzik, has become acting president, the first woman ever to hold the post.
Mr Katsav, 61, who has been under investigation since last summer, denies any wrongdoing but has promised to resign if he is formally indicted. He offered yesterday to step aside temporarily.
Last night, the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, called on Mr Katsav to resign immediately after the attorney general said he planned to charge him.
On Tuesday, the office of the attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, said it had enough evidence to support charges against the president, including rape, harassment, sexual relations involving the abuse of power, obstruction of justice and illegally accepting gifts. Mr Katsav is allowed one last hearing before any charge is formally laid.
Some Israeli politicos are already looking into ways of removing Katsav permanently from office. This story promises to be an ongoing political drama. And, in the end, will it have any kind of impact on the government and the way it handles issues, given the country’s delicate political balance? Stay tuned…
3 Responses to “Rape Allegations Force Israel’s President To Take Leave Of Absence From Office”
In this situation the only political drama that eclipses this was when Clinton got impeached for getting head and lying about it.
It’s a shame though that people in power make such boneheaded decisions. ..but then again, I’m not surprised.
and Holly…hope you aren’t mad for that little jab I made at you earlier *puppy eyes*
CP, I just now read the comments and tried to remember when and where I might have defended Moshe Katsav’s reprehensible behavior. Sure, the actor acted like a jerk but most of us have been called many names and much prefer it to being gay-bashed. Treatment??? Sounds like Maoist re-education!
I have seen a couple of opinion columns suggesting that the State of Israel abolish the ceremonial office of the President. OTOH, it looks as if Shimon Peres may be the next President, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Katsav’s main credentials seemed to have been Sephardic/Mizrachi, ‘observant’ and photogenic.
Holly, if I’m ever in Cinci, we’re going out!
Thanks for allowing me to be facetious on occasion. But you know what I’ve been thinking…as much hate and bad things that there are in the world, I’ve noticed positives too…first woman speaker of the house, first black coaches ever in a Super Bowl, more awareness of the environment in general (although actions are louder than words), just a lot of good things too. As for Peres being the next Prez of the big I, I’m all for it, as he ranks in my all-time top 3 with Yitzhak Rabin and Menachem Begin. Things are going to look up, I think and it can’t come too soon…