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Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
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| Date: |
24 Jan 2007 10:31:05 PM |
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Israeli president stands aside to face rape charge |
This story is from The Times
Israeli president stands aside to face rape charge
David Byers and agencies
January 25, 2007
THE Israeli President, Moshe Katsav, asked the Knesset today to
temporarily remove him from office after prosecutors revealed they have
enough evidence to indict him on rape charges.
Mr Katsav told parliament's House Committee that he wishes to take a
leave of absence in the run-up to a crucial hearing with the Meni
Mazuz, the Attorney-General, at which he is due to find out whether he
will officially be charged with any offence, a parliamentary
spokeswoman said.
Mr Katsav's decision follows a statement by Mr Mazuz's office yesterday
that it had enough evidence to indict Mr Katsav for raping a former
employee while he served as Tourism Minister, as well as sexually
harassing three other workers at the Presidential residence.
The President is also likely to face charges of fraud, breach of trust,
harassing a witness and obstruction of justice, Mr Mazuz announced.
In a forthcoming hearing with Mr Mazuz, at a date yet to be confirmed,
Mr Katsav will have one last chance to make his case before the
Attorney-General formally announces whether charges will be
forthcoming. It is until this hearing that Mr Katsav wishes to take a
leave of absence.
After the revelations yesterday, a number of senior Israeli politicians
demanded that the President stand down to prevent his office falling
into disrepute.
These included Tzipi Livni, the influential Foreign Minister, who is
tipped in some circles to replace the out-of-favour Ehud Olmert as the
country's next Prime Minister.
While Mr Katsav is innocent until proven guilty, "he should not be
waging the battle to prove his innocence from the president's office",
a statement by Ms Livni's office read. "Minister Livni is convinced
that resignation would be the appropriate action at this time."
Mr Katsav has planned a news conference for this evening when he will
formally propose the temporary leave of absence, which could stretch
for up to three months. Under Israeli law, a committee of MPs would
have to vote on whether or not to approve such an absence, and Ms
Pordes confirmed it would begin its deliberations tomorrow.
The President has strenuously denied the charges, and claims he is the
victim of a politically-motivated conspiracy. He refused to comment
after the announcement yesterday.
The small opposition Meretz party had said it would have taken action
to launch impeachment proceedings against Mr Katsav if he had not
removed himself from office.
No sitting Israeli president has ever been charged with a crime - but
the Israeli public has in recent years grown accustomed to the
spectacle of politicians being put on trial, or being tainted by
corruption allegations.
One former minister and former military commander, Yitzhak Mordechai,
was forced to resign in 2000 after allegations of sexual misconduct and
Mr Katsav's predecessor, the outspoken war hero turned peacemaker Ezer
Weizman, resigned in the same year after the attorney-general ruled he
had improperly accepted more than =C2=A3150,000 in gifts from a French
millionaire. Mr Weizman was never indicted.
Earlier this week, police began to investigate the conduct of Mr Olmert
for his involvement in the sale of a Government-controlled bank.
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