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| Israel's Katsav faces rape charge | Israel's Katsav faces rape charge |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Israel's ministry of justice says it plans to charge the country's largely ceremonial head of state, Moshe Katsav, with rape and abuse of power. | Israel's ministry of justice says it plans to charge the country's largely ceremonial head of state, Moshe Katsav, with rape and abuse of power. |
| Formal charges against him can be made only after a hearing at which he will be allowed to present his case. | Formal charges against him can be made only after a hearing at which he will be allowed to present his case. |
| Mr Katsav denies allegations of rape and sexual misconduct made by several female employees in recent months. | Mr Katsav denies allegations of rape and sexual misconduct made by several female employees in recent months. |
| The recommendation to indict him comes amid a flurry of corruption allegations against top-level Israeli politicians. | The recommendation to indict him comes amid a flurry of corruption allegations against top-level Israeli politicians. |
| Mr Katsav's lawyers said he was innocent and charges would be dropped after the attorney general heard Mr Katsav's side of the story. | |
| "The president believes that everyone will see that he is the victim of false charges," David Libai said, adding that the president would hold a news conference on Wednesday. | |
| The president enjoys immunity, but he can be impeached or prosecuted after he leaves office. | |
| Mr Katsav's seven-year term ends this year, but his lawyers have previously indicated he might resign if he was indicted. | |
| Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's office issued a statement saying there was enough evidence to support an indictment against Mr Katsav on charges of rape, harassment, abuse of power and obstruction of justice, among other crimes. | |
| Dignity of office | Dignity of office |
| Iranian-born Mr Katsav, 60, was a journalist before standing for parliament as a candidate for the right-wing Likud party in 1977. | Iranian-born Mr Katsav, 60, was a journalist before standing for parliament as a candidate for the right-wing Likud party in 1977. |
| He acted as power broker within the party and rose to ministerial positions. | He acted as power broker within the party and rose to ministerial positions. |
| The office is invested with great dignity and prestige in the Israeli political system, but powers are limited. They include pardoning prisoners. | The office is invested with great dignity and prestige in the Israeli political system, but powers are limited. They include pardoning prisoners. |
| Several MPs have called on Mr Katsav to resign immediately to avoid bringing the office into disrepute. | Several MPs have called on Mr Katsav to resign immediately to avoid bringing the office into disrepute. |
| He was the first member of a right-wing political party to become Israeli president, beating off the challenge of Labour veteran Shimon Peres in 2000. | He was the first member of a right-wing political party to become Israeli president, beating off the challenge of Labour veteran Shimon Peres in 2000. |
| Mr Katsav's predecessor, Ezer Weizman, left office early in controversial circumstances after the attorney general found he had accepted improper gifts. He was never charged with any crime. | Mr Katsav's predecessor, Ezer Weizman, left office early in controversial circumstances after the attorney general found he had accepted improper gifts. He was never charged with any crime. |