JERUSALEM, Oct 16: President Moshe Katsav is fighting for his political life after police on Sunday recommended his indictment on charges including rape, the most serious accusations ever faced by an Israeli leader.
Under enormous pressure to resign from his largely ceremonial post, Mr Katsav opted out of opening parliament’s new session after lawmakers threatened a boycott — the first time that a session began without the head of state.
The bland 60-year-old career politician, who rose from obscurity to become head of state in 2000, is immune from prosecution while president but could be charged if impeached by the Knesset.
On Sunday, police said that a weeks-long investigation had produced enough evidence to indict the married father of five on charges of rape, sexual harassment and wire-tapping.
“There is sufficient evidence indicating that in several cases ... the president carried out acts of rape, forced sexual acts, sexual acts without consent and sexual harassment,” police said.
“There is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the law banning wire-tapping by the president,” they added after a meeting with investigators and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
Mr Katsav, who has rejected calls to resign while the investigation continues, repeated his denials of the allegations and vowed to clear his name.
“The president was surprised and shocked by the police recommendations,” a statement from his office said. “He repeats that he is a victim of a plot and that sooner or later the allegations against him will be proven false.”
The attorney general is expected to decide within two to three weeks whether to file an indictment against the president and public radio reported that Mr Katsav was weighing his options.
Mr Katsav’s attorney Zion Amir predicted that Mazuz would not file formal charges against his client.
“This is not the first time police have recommended the indictment of senior figures, including prime ministers, and those recommendations have all been rejected,” he said.
But “if Mazuz opts for an indictment, I think the president will have no other choice but to resign”, Amir said.
The Iranian-born president could face between three and 16 years in prison if convicted.
The charges are the most serious faced by an Israeli leader, although several other top figures, including former prime minister Ariel Sharon, have faced probes into allegations of corruption.
Though not explicitly mentioned, the Katsav sex scandal hung heavily over the opening of the new session of parliament on Monday, with the head of state staying away.
Katsav had originally said he would preside over the opening despite the police statement, but later cancelled his appearance after a wave of protests from lawmakers.—AFP
