This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6053688.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Police back Katsav rape charges | Police back Katsav rape charges |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Israeli police say there is enough evidence to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and wire-tapping. | Israeli police say there is enough evidence to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and wire-tapping. |
| Attorney General Menachem Mazuz must now decide whether to press charges. | Attorney General Menachem Mazuz must now decide whether to press charges. |
| President Katsav is due to open the winter session of parliament on Monday, but a number of deputies have already threatened to walk out if he attends. | President Katsav is due to open the winter session of parliament on Monday, but a number of deputies have already threatened to walk out if he attends. |
| The president denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations against him. | The president denies claims that he forced two female employees to have sex with him, and all other allegations against him. |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The post of president, to which he was elected for a seven-year term which ends in 2007, is largely ceremonial. |