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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Police back Katsav rape charges | Police back Katsav rape charges |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Israeli police believe there is enough evidence to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and wire-tapping, a statement has said. | Israeli police believe there is enough evidence to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and wire-tapping, a statement has said. |
| The recommendation came at a meeting between Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and police who have been investigating claims against Mr Katsav for weeks. | The recommendation came at a meeting between Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and police who have been investigating claims against Mr Katsav for weeks. |
| Mr Mazuz will have the final say on whether Mr Katsav should face charges. | Mr Mazuz will have the final say on whether Mr Katsav should face charges. |
| Mr Katsav denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations. | Mr Katsav denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations. |
| He has said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial or investigation". | He has said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial or investigation". |
| The police statement said: "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." | The police statement said: "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." |
| "There is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the law banning wire-tapping by the president," it added. | "There is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the law banning wire-tapping by the president," it added. |
| Residence searched | Residence searched |
| The statement said police also found basis for charges of fraud and malfeasance in office concerning presidential pardons granted by the president - one of the few powers of his office. | The statement said police also found basis for charges of fraud and malfeasance in office concerning presidential pardons granted by the president - one of the few powers of his office. |
| Police searched the president's home in August after allegations of sexual harassment emerged, and have questioned him repeatedly and seized documents during the investigation. | Police searched the president's home in August after allegations of sexual harassment emerged, and have questioned him repeatedly and seized documents during the investigation. |
| Israeli media reports have said the case is based on complaints from up to 10 women. | |
| The 61-year-old father-of-five has rejected calls that he quit the largely ceremonial post that he has held since 2000. | The 61-year-old father-of-five has rejected calls that he quit the largely ceremonial post that he has held since 2000. |
| If charged, he would be immune from prosecution. | If charged, he would be immune from prosecution. |
| However, he could be impeached by parliament if it felt he had acted inappropriately. | However, he could be impeached by parliament if it felt he had acted inappropriately. |
| Israeli dissatisfaction | |
| Mr Katsav will not address the Knesset during the ceremony opening its winter session, the first time in Israeli history that the president has not done so. | |
| Some representatives have threatened to walk out if Mr Katsav is even present. | |
| The BBC's Richard Miron in Jerusalem says Mr Katsav may resign if he is indicted. | |
| The police recommendations come at a time when Israelis of all political hues are dissatisfied with their leadership, our correspondent says. | |
| A number of politicians have faced scandals recently, with charges ranging from sexual misconduct to corruption. | |
| And the handling of the recent war against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been widely criticised. | |
| Mr Katsav is a veteran member of the right-wing Likud party, serving as transport minister in the late 1980s and in 1996 as minister of tourism and deputy prime minister. | Mr Katsav is a veteran member of the right-wing Likud party, serving as transport minister in the late 1980s and in 1996 as minister of tourism and deputy prime minister. |