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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israel president sex case delayed | Israel president sex case delayed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Israel's supreme court has agreed to consider a challenge to the plea bargain struck by ex-President Moshe Katsav to avoid rape charges. | Israel's supreme court has agreed to consider a challenge to the plea bargain struck by ex-President Moshe Katsav to avoid rape charges. |
| Some 20,000 people rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday against the deal struck with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. | Some 20,000 people rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday against the deal struck with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. |
| Under the bargain, he was due to be charged with lesser sexual offences and faced a suspended sentence. | Under the bargain, he was due to be charged with lesser sexual offences and faced a suspended sentence. |
| Now Mr Mazuz, who earlier said evidence of rape was not "sufficiently solid", has 24 hours to justify his decision. | Now Mr Mazuz, who earlier said evidence of rape was not "sufficiently solid", has 24 hours to justify his decision. |
| Rape convictions in Israel carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison. | Rape convictions in Israel carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison. |
| Mr Katsav finally resigned as president on Sunday. Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres will replace him formally on 15 July. | Mr Katsav finally resigned as president on Sunday. Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres will replace him formally on 15 July. |
| Under the plea bargain signed on Thursday, he admits to sexual harassment and indecent acts but two rape counts included in the original charge sheet have been dropped. | |
| Society 'sullied' | Society 'sullied' |
| Michael Partem, vice-chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel group, said the plea bargain had to be voided. | Michael Partem, vice-chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel group, said the plea bargain had to be voided. |
| Mr Katsav has vigorously defended his reputation in the past | Mr Katsav has vigorously defended his reputation in the past |
| "Instead of prosecuting the president as an ordinary person and applying the rule of law equally, it goes easy on the president... it's been reduced to a slap on the wrist," he said. | "Instead of prosecuting the president as an ordinary person and applying the rule of law equally, it goes easy on the president... it's been reduced to a slap on the wrist," he said. |
| Women's groups and victims of sex attacks led the protest against the attorney general's decision to drop rape charges against Mr Katsav. | Women's groups and victims of sex attacks led the protest against the attorney general's decision to drop rape charges against Mr Katsav. |
| "It's a deal that stains us all, we should not agree to let this sully our society," Education Minister Yuli Tamir told the crowd on Rabin Square. | "It's a deal that stains us all, we should not agree to let this sully our society," Education Minister Yuli Tamir told the crowd on Rabin Square. |
| Correspondents say the turnout for the rally was the highest in years for a women's rights protest in Israel. | Correspondents say the turnout for the rally was the highest in years for a women's rights protest in Israel. |
| There have long been complaints that the authorities do little to counter sexual harassment at work. | There have long been complaints that the authorities do little to counter sexual harassment at work. |