Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was convicted of two counts of rape, drawing to a close a four-year scandal, and leaving him looking at no less than eight years in prison. How much rape is he going to get in jail?
Katsav was also convicted on charges of sexual harassment, indecent acts and obstruction of justice - because what's rape without a side dish of those? The ruling ends an 18 month trial, where Katsav was painted as a sexual predator who routinely harassed his female staff. He was accused of twice raping a victim identified as "Aleph" during his term as tourism minister. Maybe the first time was an accident, but twice? Sounds like deliberate raping! He was also said to have sexually assaulted and harassed two other women while he was president. so, that's not presidential privilege?
Proclaiming his innocence throughout, Katsav initially accepted a plea agreement that would have seen him admit the lesser accusations and pay a fine in exchange for prosecutors dropping the rape charges. He later changed his mind, voiding the deal, saying he wanted to clear his name in court. How'd that work out for ya? Forced to resign as president, the largely-ceremonial office was handed to former rival Shimon Peres. Katsav is now the second sitting Israeli president to be forced from office by allegations of criminal conduct - his predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations that he received around 450,000 dollars from a French millionaire while he was a minister and lawmaker.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "a sad day for the state of Israel and its citizens," but he lauded the trial as a sign of the strength of the country's legal system. "The court today sent two clear messages: that everyone is equal before the law; and that a woman has full rights and control over her own body." If only that idea could catch on in the rest of the Middle East....
Katsav was also convicted on charges of sexual harassment, indecent acts and obstruction of justice - because what's rape without a side dish of those? The ruling ends an 18 month trial, where Katsav was painted as a sexual predator who routinely harassed his female staff. He was accused of twice raping a victim identified as "Aleph" during his term as tourism minister. Maybe the first time was an accident, but twice? Sounds like deliberate raping! He was also said to have sexually assaulted and harassed two other women while he was president. so, that's not presidential privilege?
Proclaiming his innocence throughout, Katsav initially accepted a plea agreement that would have seen him admit the lesser accusations and pay a fine in exchange for prosecutors dropping the rape charges. He later changed his mind, voiding the deal, saying he wanted to clear his name in court. How'd that work out for ya? Forced to resign as president, the largely-ceremonial office was handed to former rival Shimon Peres. Katsav is now the second sitting Israeli president to be forced from office by allegations of criminal conduct - his predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, was forced to resign in 2000 after revelations that he received around 450,000 dollars from a French millionaire while he was a minister and lawmaker.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "a sad day for the state of Israel and its citizens," but he lauded the trial as a sign of the strength of the country's legal system. "The court today sent two clear messages: that everyone is equal before the law; and that a woman has full rights and control over her own body." If only that idea could catch on in the rest of the Middle East....
1 comment:
You need to post Putin's comments about the affair, when he weighed in on October 19, 2006telling Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to "Say hello to your president. He really surprised us... turned out to be quite a mighty man. He raped 10 women. I never expected it from him. He surprised all of us. We all envy him."
Talk about support from on high...
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