JERUSALEM, 17 October 2006 — Israeli President Moshe Katsav was fighting for his political life yesterday after police recommended he be indicted on charges including rape, the most serious ever faced by a national leader. Under enormous pressure to resign from his largely ceremonial post, Katsav canceled an appearance to open the new session of Parliament after several lawmakers threatened a boycott.
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.
